Brick staining underneath external paint

[nxc37]

Hi,

We are in the process of removing the stuff (some sort of sprayed-on textured paint or render) which is covering our Victorian brickwork. Underneath, the bricks (mostly yellow) are stained a white-grey colour.

Any suggestions as to what this is? Could it be an earlier limewash? It hasn't come off with either heat or Peelaway. I though it might have been some sort of leaching, but there is at least one coast of brown paint between the bricks and the render stuff.

Ideally we wanted to get back to bare brick, but are now considering ultimately limewashing.

Thanks.

 

[MatthewC]

I can't think what this could be, but I do know that the variety of bricks which my other half and I reclaimed from the old brick Victorian extension have all come up nicely quite naturally on the rebuilt extension. There is still variety but a lot of the paint/discolouration/soot/other stuff has faded considerably over the last eight years and the effect is quite pleasing.

Still can't quite believe that those bricks are yellow though - I will admit that mine weren't that bad!

 

[LadyArowana]

They look quite a nice colour on my ipad... but I suppose that isn’t really the point.

 

[nxc37]

I don't entirely disagree regarding the colour, just curious as to what it is and I DO like the original yellow.

Those bricks are on the front where the covering has come off quite easily. Sadly, the side of the house is a different story and the bricks are much more damaged, so more brick and less 'stain' is visible (see pic). This may turn out to the be case with the rest of what we have to remove.

 

[88v8]

I suppose it isn't something as basic as PVA? As a primer beneath the render?

Bad luck with the damaged brick. Always a lottery to remove old render.
Bricks can be cut out and replaced, if you can find matchers and have the time and inclination.

Or perhaps you could create an Edwardian aesthetic with some mock half-timber and some new..... render.

Ivor

 

[nxc37]

Just thought I'd update that (after application of other strippers and vinegar!) we've decided the grey is an old limewash. For now we are most concerned about getting the worst of the side wall repointed, but then we'll work on getting the rest of the texture off the front - which will hopefully be in good enough condition to leave grey for a while and see what the weather does.