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Does anyone know the fastest way to get plaster off walls back to the brick?

12 replies

Thankyouandgoodnight · 16/03/2009 13:19

?

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Seeline · 16/03/2009 13:22

In my house, I just stripped the wall paper and most of the plaster came too

ABetaDad · 16/03/2009 13:41

If the plaster is old and not too massive an area a wide 'cold' chisel (abut 3 - 4 inches wide and a hammer. Work a hole in the plaster than slide it under the plater with teh chisel falt against the brick and tap away it should slip off in fairly bigsheets. Wear a dist mask and googles though - essentail to stop dust nd mould getting in eyes and lungs.

If it is a lot of plaster or relly well stuck on you will need a spcialist power tool that is powered by compressed air that abrades (wears) it off a bit like jack hammer.

ABetaDad · 16/03/2009 13:42

That's a 'dust mask' by the way.

Thankyouandgoodnight · 16/03/2009 15:36

Ooooh thanks ABetaDad - it's coming off relatively easily but it's a huge area - all the walls in a house. Would you recommend the power tool?

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noddyholder · 16/03/2009 15:37

Also keep it well sprayed as you go to keep the dust dowm.where are you?Its my speciality!

Thankyouandgoodnight · 16/03/2009 15:40

ah noddy - did you use a chisel or the power tool????? we need to clear the walls of a 2000 square foot building!

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noddyholder · 16/03/2009 15:46

Have used both as it really depends on the age and condition of the plaster.Huge mallet and chisel fine in an old house.Some bits just stick.is it going to be replastered?

Thankyouandgoodnight · 16/03/2009 15:49

It is going to be replastered - most of it anyway. It's an old house but there's loads of it! It's not the quickest job hence me asking.

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noddyholder · 16/03/2009 15:51

You can be a lot more violent ifyou aren't trying to preserve the look of the brick.

ABetaDad · 16/03/2009 16:01

Thankyouandgoodnight - here is a DeWalt Hammer Drill from my favourite tool shop (Machine Mart).

DeWalt Cordless

As the description says its useful for light chisseling tasks such as removing plaster up to 4200 beats per minute!

Its cordless too so easier to use.

Pricey at £310 though.

Your local plant/tool hire firm may also be able to suggest an alternative.

By the way is the plaster laid on lathe or directly on the brick? If it is laid on lathe its better just to smash it through with a heavy 5Kg hammer then saw through the lathes with a power saw (check for live wires first). Once you have the lathes cut through then just use a crowbar to lever the the uprights posts that the lathes are nailed to right off the wall. Watch out you do not stand on any nails that may go through your feet though. Extremely painful.

If the plaster is laid direct on brick then if you 'score' the plaster in square sections on the surface of the wall with a heavy guage knife before attacking with a chisel or hammer drill chisel. It will break off in decent sized pieces much more easily.

I do emphasise you must wear a dust mask and goggles though whatever you do.

As you soudn as though you have abig job there you will need a number of big truck skips and system for delivering the plaster out of the building as it is heavy to shift and bulky with it.

Good luck.

katiestar · 16/03/2009 18:30

SDS drill (set to hammer action) with a tile chisel attachment .

Thankyouandgoodnight · 16/03/2009 19:15

Thanks everso very much for all that info - that's brilliant. Very helpful!

It's directly on to the brick. It doesn't seem to be coming off in sheets. The floors of the two rooms done are covered in rubble

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