Removing masonry paint

[Flyfisher]

I bought two aluminium scaffold towers a few years ago for £150 each. They've been very useful indeed. I found them via an advert in our local paper.

I've been putting off thinking about stripping our exterior walls, but will need to face it within a few years. The timber-framed part of the house won't be a problem (!) because the cement render must all come off anyway, but the rubble walled/chalk block sections will be a big job - so I'll be following your progress with great interest!

However, I have reservations about limewash because of the maintenance costs. Limewash itself might be cheap but re-washing the entire house every few years certainly won't be, especially if full scaffolding is required. On that basis it would almost certainly be cheaper to buy some scaffolding, assuming you have space to store it between re-washes.

I have it in mind to investigate the use of silicate paints when the time comes; just as breathable as limewash (I believe) but with around 20 years durability. Has anyone on here actually tried it?

 

[Penners]

Assuming that you're going to re-limewash, then - from what I remember in past threads on this subject - I don't think you need to worry about taking off the stable limewash. As 'Marm says, it will be no different from a re-application of limewash over an already washed wall.

On the clay lump section of the house I think you'll have to take it gently with the pressure-washer. Provided you're careful, you might even save yourself some work by dislodging loose lime render as well as masonry paint. But it's going to be a a careful step-by-step operation, to make sure that you don't blast away any of the clay lump.

Obviously you'll need to make good the lime render as quickly as possible, once you've got the masonry paint off. Given the time of year and the amount of time that it could take you to do the stripping, you might want to tackle the clay lump wing first, so that you can get the lime render/limewash done before autumn/winter.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Thanks Dave - these seem really, really cheap compared to the aluminium towers. How easy do you find it to assemble/use?

It's easy enough to assemble, although there are only enough boards for one full platform, so I added a couple to make a ledge halfway. There are no outriggers, but as long as the base is level and you don't do anything silly at the very top I don't think this is a problem. I have been able to secure it to the house when working on the eaves. Oh, and it will rust as the paint gets chipped, so needs storing under cover.

 

[Flyfisher]

A couple of regular scaffold poles and the appropriate fixings can be used to make some effective outriggers. It's well worth doing this, even if you also somehow tie the top of the tower to the building, because it reduces the 'wobble' and gives more confidence!

 

[ian]

FLyfisher wrote

have it in mind to investigate the use of silicate paints when the time comes; just as breathable as limewash (I believe) but with around 20 years durability. Has anyone on here actually tried it?

I have heard tale of a so called pozzi- lime based limewash from Ingilby Mariner near Sudbury that has been used on properties where there was a problem to match colours and finish on exterior walls of different materials, e.g. cement and lime. I suspect that this would be more durable than a pure limewash finish, though maybe not as much as silicate - though cheaper. Don't know if it is up to caoting a thick plastic masonary paint though. Anybody any more experience/knowledge on this?

 

[Flyfisher]

Interesting. I'd not heard of that before.

I wasn't advocating silicate paints just to cover existing plastic masonary paint though. I think such horrid stuff needs to be removed whatever final finish is used.

I haven't done detailed calculations yet but my feeling is that the cost of silicate paints (around £200 for 10 litres I've seen :shock: ) may not be a big issue compare to the cost of scaffolding a building every 2-3 years for reapplying limewash. Besides, I really don't want to face re-limewashing the exterior every few years. Every 20 years is a far more acceptable proposition - especially as it probably means I'll only have to do it once.

 

[Pford75]

Any links to silicate products?

Obviously the clay lump section needs to be limewashed, but we are also planning on waiting to see what the bricks on the main house look like before deciding to limewash (perhaps we can leave them bare?)

 

[Flyfisher]

Any links to silicate products?

These are from my bookmarks:

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/vapour/vapour.htm

http://www.earthbornpaints.co.uk/silicate-masonry-paint.php

http://www.beeck.de/english/wir_en/wasistbeeck.html

I've also just noticed these pages: http://www.periodpropertyshop.co.uk/acatalog/Masonry_Paints.html
So it must be good stuff!

 

[Penners]

Obviously the clay lump section needs to be limewashed

I presume that's just shorthand for "lime rendered and limewashed"? I wouldn't leave clay lump unrendered.

 

[Penners]

Every 20 years is a far more acceptable proposition - especially as it probably means I'll only have to do it once.

That pessimistic view is entirely at odds with your youthful appearance, young man.

Or did you perhaps intend that FF Jr. would undertake the second application, under your guidance?

 

[Flyfisher]

Appearance perhaps (you're too kind!), but I've no great ambition to be clambering around on scaffolding in my 70s wielding a paintbrush.

Using FF jnr is a good idea though; he's already served some time on the roof repairs and is shaping up to be quite useful. Motivation is, of course, an entirely different matter. :roll:

 

[Pford75]

Hooray!!

Finally bought myself some scaffold. Since I need a working height of nearly 10ft, I managed to track down a 6ft, single width, alu tower (with outriggers, kick board etc) via eBay. Should be delivered this week.

Also, last night I had to trek up to Grantham, Lincs to pick up a hot pressure washer I bought on eBay - this was a bargain and well worth the trip.

My plan is to resell the pressure washer after I've stripped the paint.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ooh exciting. Well done!

 

[Schoolmarm]

Scaff tower :evil: how much and who from?

 

[Pford75]

£680 from eBay... 10ft2in working height...includes delivery.

 

[robgil]

i may be interested in buying or hiring the pressure washer from you when i finally get around to stripping the pink bubblegum off the outside of my house if you still have it ,.
i would also be interested to hear how you get on with strippers stuff , i think ive got sandex? on my walls though. with there being limewash under your masonry paint it should come off a lot easier as limewash can be quite powdery.
did you know that strippers of sodbury are also anglian lime who sell all sorts of lime products? lime wash , distemper etc etc.