Cleaning/Finishing exposed Brickwork that was plastered?

[benmc]

All

The interior walls of out Church have all been covered in modern plaster, they were originally exposed brick.

We have just uncovered an old fireplace and we will be installing a wood burning stove. Now there is around 2 sq m of original brickwork that I have managed to uncover by careful scraping away of the plaster. The original bricks are a wonderful red color.

Now my issue is that when I wet the bricks they come up a really well but as soon as they dry they go all dusty.

Is there anyway is should be cleaning them or using a brick cleaner or sealer?

Thanks for any help

Ben

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hi Ben

Just read through your old posts, realised that you probably aren't a man of the cloth, and that you have a very unique home and wonderful project ahead of you- good luck!

The interior walls of out Church have all been covered in modern plaster, they were originally exposed brick.

How do you know that? Weren't churches lime plastered on the interior?

If you do know it was originally exposed brick then I apologise for the following comments and please ignore them.

Exposing things that weren't meant to be exposed causes a few wrinkled noses on this forum: I posted about a very similar issue in the thread "Dust rains in our dinner" and was advised by quite a few to re-plaster with lime, thus partly undoing the blunder of the previous owner in shot-blasting this brickwork. I've not yet dismissed this suggestion, although I find the colours and arch-patterns within the old bricks more interesting than plain whitewash. Living with exposed brickwork in a large area is troublesome if it has had no treatment of any kind, it is forever crumbling and dusty.

If you must have exposed brickwork then this company will happily talk to you about how to treat it.

www.womersleys.co.uk

If you read the thread I mentioned you'll find some other interesting suggestions, including wallpaper paste.

 

[benmc]

Luckily I have pictures that show all of the brickwork was exposed and the interior was never plastered until the original conversion in the late 70s.

I can't expose all of the brickwork as this is practically not possible but exposing a couple of square m would be good

Ben