Bricks give any property a classic, rustic look and feel.
Graffiti, on the other hand, can lower the value of your home or even turn off potential customers if you own a business.
So, how do you remove spray paint from brick if someone over sprayed or illegally left graffiti on one of your walls?
In this article, we’ll cover how to clean graffiti off brick, the materials you’ll need, and we’ll answer some of our readers’ most frequently asked questions about removing spray paint from brickwork.
Let’s get started.
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Hey there, I’m Cody.
A decade of residential and commercial pressure washing led me to start JCS Refresh. Now I can share my knowledge with folks like you.
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Quick Answer
If you’d rather not wait, here are seven tried-and-true methods in removing spray paint from any brick surface:
- Using graffiti remover (spray application)
- Using graffiti remover (bucket)
- Using graffiti safewipes
- Using paint stripper
- Using paint stripping gel
- Scrubbing down the bricks with soap and warm water
- Using a pressure washer
Quick questions before starting
Before diving right in, learning these three things will prepare you for the task ahead.
How difficult is this to do?
- Spray paint that has just been applied can be easily removed, but dried stains can be difficult to remove and may require a lot of scrubbing.
How long does it take?
- Cleaning off spray paint from brick can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
How much do materials cost?
- Graffiti remover (spray application) – $12 to $30
- Graffiti remover (bucket) – $40 to $58
- Graffiti safewipes – around $26
- Paint stripper – $6 to $8
- Paint stripping gel – $14 to $22
- Pressure washer – $150 to $250 for electric gas models, $300 to $500 for gas models
- Soft-bristled brush – $8 to $15
- Soap – around $20 for a gallon or you can mix readily available dish soap with warm water
- Clean cloth or rags – around $7 for a 12-pack cleaning cloth, or you can use old rag
How to remove spray paint from brick
As a general rule, perform a spot test to ensure the product won’t harm the bricks, and be mindful of how long you leave the product on.
Because of the porous nature of bricks, chemicals can easily penetrate and damage them, so it’s critical to follow the directions on the packaging when applying the product.
Here are the 7 best ways to remove graffiti from brick:
Using graffiti remover (spray application)
Spray applications are easy to store and use, making them ideal for cleaning brick materials inside your home or shop.
Once you’ve determined it’s safe, spray it on the affected area and leave it for 30 minutes or as directed on the packaging.
Using graffiti remover (bucket)
When dealing with large amounts of spray paint, graffiti removers in a bucket are preferred.
To use this method properly, wipe the cleaner onto the wall with a rag or cloth to dissolve the spray paint. Then, use another clean rag, and wipe away the paint.
Given how hard and time-consuming it can be to get rid of a large sections, it may also be helpful to hire the services of a graffiti removal company.
Using graffiti safewipes
Graffiti safe wipes are a convenient product to have on hand for cleaning up small amounts of overspray. With safe wipes, you can simply wipe it across the affected area.
In addition, it should absorb a significant amount of paint without additional exposure time, making it safer.
Wait – If you’re working with spray paint, you might need these guides in the future.
Using paint stripper
Paint strippers remove even the most challenging paint stains and are stronger than other removers, but can easily damage your brick so it’s always best to hire a professional.
Spray this product sparingly on the affected area and wipe it quickly with a clean rag, working each section and repeating the process as needed. It can be tedious, but leaving the product for too long can cause discoloration in a matter of seconds.
Using paint stripping gel
Paint-stripping gels may be a good option if you need something that sticks to the surface without dripping.
Cleaning off spray paint from the interiors of your property can be messy. You should resolve it without any fuss, especially if you have kids or run your business inside. This product is thicker and less strong than the others. It still has that stripping power, but it is gentler.
You’ll need to use a clean cloth to apply the gel and wipe it away with another clean cloth to remove the paint.
Scrubbing down the bricks with soap and warm water
Whichever product you use, not all of the paint will be removed, and you will need to scrub down any remaining residue.
Because bricks are a delicate material, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the surface with soap and warm water.
Using a pressure washer
Most complex graffiti removal projects may require a pressure washer to completely remove the spray paint from the surface.
After applying your remover, you can scrub the surface or skip it and proceed directly to pressure washing. The recommended PSI for washing bricks is between 500 to 1500 PSI.
As with anything, test the pressure and distance in a small area first. Start with the lowest pressure and widest nozzle and adjust as needed.
Pressure washers can break bricks if not used properly, so use them with caution or seek help from a professional if you’re unsure.
Since they have been trained, they can do the job without hurting your property, which could reduce risk and lower the overall cost of removing the graffiti.
Moss, which is common on bricks, is another type of stain that pressure washers can remove. If you want to learn more, check out our ultimate guide on how to kill and pressure wash moss on bricks.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions by our readers.
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact us and someone from our team will get back to you.
Can you get spray paint off brick?
Absolutely, you can remove spray paint from any brick surface.
Does WD-40 remove paint from brick?
Yes. Because WD-40 is solvent-based, like graffiti removers, it can remove paint from brick.
Will Acetone remove spray paint from brick?
Yes, Acetone is a decent alternative for removing spray paint from brick.
Does Acetone hurt brick?
No, Acetone does not damage bricks.
Conclusion
The trick to cleaning spray paint off brick is to avoid damaging the underlying brick. Because bricks are made of textures, they will have nooks and crannies where paint can cling.
Unfortunately, bricks can also be quickly damaged if left in the solvent for longer than recommended, so follow the product’s application instructions and keep a few of our brick-cleaning techniques in mind.
Thanks for reading!
