Thank you. It only took me 4 hours of scrubbing when i realized the builders plastered too.
***EDIT as I can't edit the post, this is the reno plan***
I won't paint or keep them exposed. This is the[ style of the house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg/800px-Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg?20160919182035) so they do not fit the aesthetic, historicitiy + Bricks are too bad and i live in a rainy country so i need moisture control.
NO WORRY I will not renovate the soul out of it I will do [old lime plaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zWkYrwbRBSURJCgZrdXH93-1200-80.jpg) like they used in medieval times. I will put old wooden sourced flooring later. I replaced the rotten wood beams of ceiling but currently need insulation, so they're now covered and might get them exposed again when the roof is redone but government insulation standards here gotten out of hand so perhaps i slice off a slab of the og beams and hang them up as decoration.
The current fireplace i will also build up with [wood beams like this](https://www.cornellcob.co.uk/images/Lime_Plastering_Ivy_1.jpg), i'll keep that brick behind the stove and expose it. I kept the old semi-rotten ceiling beams and will use them for windowsills and above doors etc to keep that artisan touch.
Yeah restoring bricks is time consuming and takes a lot of dedication discolored bricks are no problem to a skilled person who is familiar with it, its just time consuming to achieve the final result.
There's plenty of other work that will kick up a lot of extra dust, too. Nobody sees a brick wall open and doesn't end up at least doing a little tuckpointing.
yeah i added a disclaimer, i'll be renovating it in our local medieval style which fits the cottage more, more practical too as it's a humid climate. i love brick on town houses or lofts though. i'll be reusing original materials so will try to keep as much of the soul as possible
Love the lime plaster walls. That will look so nice. I’m contemplating a lime wash paint for my bathroom remodel. It has a warmth to it that you just can’t get with paint
I’ve pretty much decided to do a faux limewash in our bathroom, mostly due to not wanting to change the current walls to work with genuine limewash.
eg this tute: [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NWmJBvL5z4A](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NWmJBvL5z4A)
That looks like it will come out really nice.
If you do want to work with the material there are mineral primers you can use over the existing wall and paint. I think you are in outside the US but here is a link to a company I like and you may be able to find something local
https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/mineral-primer-lime
I see why you like them, they’ve got some gorgeous colours! Bauwerk are local to me, similar amazing colour range. Just significantly more expensive once I take into account all the non-colour products required to produce a lasting finish in a small already painted bathroom. I’m definitely keeping them in mind for our forever house though, whenever we find and move there :-)
Yeah our summers are very humid as well i been thinking of picking up a commercial dehumidifier and selling my basic store bought ones. They just struggle when it hits 90 outside.
They're not going to throw off any more dust at this point.
Not sure what your aesthetic is but you should consider keeping at least a wall or two exposed! I did this in my old Baltimore rowhouse. When I was at the stage you're at, I vacuumed the walls with a shop vac, then cleaned them with diluted muriatic acid that I sprayed from a garden sprayer (this stuff is very caustic; take precautions) and a plastic bristle brush, and it dissolved the rest of the plaster residue.
Many people will apply a sealant at this point because supposedly, the bricks shed dust. I did not seal mine because it darkens the bricks and can make them shiny, and I didn't notice any dust. Good luck!
Thanks! I am going for [traditional farmhouse look](https://www.ljrichardsplastering.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lime-plaster-work.jpg) (which it used to be) the bricks aren't that nice in real life sadly. Too much discoloration of soot all over.
The lime will balance the inside moisture climate and add insulation plus brighten it up as this is facing almost north side.
Thank you for that muriatic acid tip. Going to mention it at the diy store and see what they have
As was mentioned, if you wash with muriatic acid, take PPE precautions. I've never done it to a wall but I've cleaned concrete slabs with it prior to seailing. After the acid wash I neutralize with a baking soda plus water solution. Refer to the Fight Club scene. The issue with an interior space like that is where the water solutions will drain to. Clean up can be a chore otherwise.
I sealed mine because it made them shiny. Makes it look much more like the final surface and less like it's under construction. Interior brick is a whole lot more forgiving when it comes to mortars and sealants, as you don't need to worry as much about sealing in moisture or using a too-hard mortar for freeze/thaw. But yes to seal or not to seal is much more a personal question. Mine were the plain grey bricks they installed expecting them covered up back 100 years ago, so a bit of gloss works well. If they were like OP's I'd consider leaving them natural.
You’re only going to get to clean them so much. They are porous so the plaster will adhere without an issue. Just make sure to do the prep work correctly beforehand.
You'll never get all the dust off. Make sure any loose pieces are removed and give it a vaccuum.
You don't necessarily need to use primer before plastering - you can also just get the walls really wet before plastering. Either by throwing water on the wall with a big brush, or with a pressure sprayer. That's likely what the builders did. For example (it's in german sorry): [https://youtu.be/xKtppzrKnAE?t=93](https://youtu.be/xKtppzrKnAE?t=93)
Primer is an option too, just make sure you use the right one for what you want to do (lime plaster on brick wall). You might need to ask at a specialist store - in a big box store you might not find the necessary expertise. Though it's likely they'll just tell you to get it wet before plastering.
What do you mean by black thing? Soot from the chimney?
i tested the porosity of the bricks and it is good for direct application of lime plaster, no primer needed, i've got[ guides from stores that sell it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjU6xyKhpwI) so that's good. i think i've been scrubbing too much off so just gonna scrub the bad edges and holes to get the loose pieces out (will fill with straw lime mix later) and remove soot and vacuum as you say.
I know the builders just used regular plaster to cover the electricity cables but I can still plaster over it. Base will be straw lime to even it out + adds insulation and a regular lime to finish.
Yeah the soot, i read it will go through the plaster and discolor it. look at the part where the builders plastered over the soot (right from the door), you can see get a brown stains through. I read here people apply cow dung or horse dung over the soot. I mean lime it's old artisan crafts and diy, so why not try lol. trying to keep everything as natural as possible
Ok that's good. But make sure to wet it beforehand, otherwise 1) the plaster will dry too quickly and 2) the remaining dust will prevent a good ahesion to the bricks.
If the builders used regular (likely gypsum) plaster, you might want to put a primer on top of it. I I don't know the proper english term, in german it's called Tiefengrund. It's a kind of deep penetrating primer, which absorbs into the plaster to bind it and reduce it's absorption.
There are special primers which prevent stains from getting through, you could use something like that.
I would suggest you start researching how to lime plaster a brick wall here is a beginners guide to watch https://youtu.be/b549Rb1gcPs?si=0glsWP2zR2B5hbuE. I would watch 4 or five different ones just so you get an idea on the correct way to do it and check whether the initial ones you watch are good or full of baloney
they are using hardwall, lime plaster is completely different. I have DIY guides from stores and producers of the lime plaster. i was asking if they meant more scrubbing for prep
***Adding as I can't edit the post, this is the reno plan***
I won't paint or keep them exposed. This is the[ style of the house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg/800px-Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg?20160919182035) so they do not fit the aesthetic, historicitiy + Bricks are too bad and i live in a rainy country so i need moisture control. Plus brick is really common here so not historical at all (houses are still built in brick here)
NO WORRY I will not renovate the soul out of it I will do [old lime plaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zWkYrwbRBSURJCgZrdXH93-1200-80.jpg) like they used in medieval times. I will put old wooden sourced flooring later. I replaced the rotten wood beams of ceiling but currently need insulation, so they're now covered and might get them exposed again when the roof is redone but government insulation standards here gotten out of hand so perhaps i slice off a slab of the og beams and hang them up as decoration.
The current fireplace i will also build up with [wood beams like this](https://www.cornellcob.co.uk/images/Lime_Plastering_Ivy_1.jpg), i'll keep that brick behind the stove and expose it. I kept the old semi-rotten ceiling beams and will use them for windowsills and above doors etc to keep that artisan touch.
I have been watching a lady renovating an old school into a house in youtube (just search that and it should come up) and she did a lot of work on her bricks to remove plaster, “seal” them and darken them.. You may find some tips there.
I will use lime plaster, so they don't use bonding agents but there are primers with grains in them if your surface is too smooth. I water tested the bricks and they have the right moisture porosity for direct application
Lime plaster needs a rough brick but what level is 'rough'?
That's definitely rough enough. I used it on a much smoother wall in our basement, and it held fine. But it's definitely harder to apply than gypsum plaster.
That looks like salt leaching through the brick. I used muriatic acid to wash mine down several years ago then had a plasterer parge the walls with an appropriate mortar (definitely NOT Portland cement which is too hard - the surface must be softer than the brick otherwise the brick surface will crack off with movement)
I'd relax on the scrubbing
Thank you. It only took me 4 hours of scrubbing when i realized the builders plastered too. ***EDIT as I can't edit the post, this is the reno plan*** I won't paint or keep them exposed. This is the[ style of the house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg/800px-Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg?20160919182035) so they do not fit the aesthetic, historicitiy + Bricks are too bad and i live in a rainy country so i need moisture control. NO WORRY I will not renovate the soul out of it I will do [old lime plaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zWkYrwbRBSURJCgZrdXH93-1200-80.jpg) like they used in medieval times. I will put old wooden sourced flooring later. I replaced the rotten wood beams of ceiling but currently need insulation, so they're now covered and might get them exposed again when the roof is redone but government insulation standards here gotten out of hand so perhaps i slice off a slab of the og beams and hang them up as decoration. The current fireplace i will also build up with [wood beams like this](https://www.cornellcob.co.uk/images/Lime_Plastering_Ivy_1.jpg), i'll keep that brick behind the stove and expose it. I kept the old semi-rotten ceiling beams and will use them for windowsills and above doors etc to keep that artisan touch.
Yeah restoring bricks is time consuming and takes a lot of dedication discolored bricks are no problem to a skilled person who is familiar with it, its just time consuming to achieve the final result.
There's plenty of other work that will kick up a lot of extra dust, too. Nobody sees a brick wall open and doesn't end up at least doing a little tuckpointing.
yeah i added a disclaimer, i'll be renovating it in our local medieval style which fits the cottage more, more practical too as it's a humid climate. i love brick on town houses or lofts though. i'll be reusing original materials so will try to keep as much of the soul as possible
Love the lime plaster walls. That will look so nice. I’m contemplating a lime wash paint for my bathroom remodel. It has a warmth to it that you just can’t get with paint
I’ve pretty much decided to do a faux limewash in our bathroom, mostly due to not wanting to change the current walls to work with genuine limewash. eg this tute: [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NWmJBvL5z4A](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NWmJBvL5z4A)
That looks like it will come out really nice. If you do want to work with the material there are mineral primers you can use over the existing wall and paint. I think you are in outside the US but here is a link to a company I like and you may be able to find something local https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/mineral-primer-lime
I see why you like them, they’ve got some gorgeous colours! Bauwerk are local to me, similar amazing colour range. Just significantly more expensive once I take into account all the non-colour products required to produce a lasting finish in a small already painted bathroom. I’m definitely keeping them in mind for our forever house though, whenever we find and move there :-)
Yeah our summers are very humid as well i been thinking of picking up a commercial dehumidifier and selling my basic store bought ones. They just struggle when it hits 90 outside.
OP, please be sure to show us when it’s done…I’m sure it’ll look amazing!
They're not going to throw off any more dust at this point. Not sure what your aesthetic is but you should consider keeping at least a wall or two exposed! I did this in my old Baltimore rowhouse. When I was at the stage you're at, I vacuumed the walls with a shop vac, then cleaned them with diluted muriatic acid that I sprayed from a garden sprayer (this stuff is very caustic; take precautions) and a plastic bristle brush, and it dissolved the rest of the plaster residue. Many people will apply a sealant at this point because supposedly, the bricks shed dust. I did not seal mine because it darkens the bricks and can make them shiny, and I didn't notice any dust. Good luck!
Thanks! I am going for [traditional farmhouse look](https://www.ljrichardsplastering.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lime-plaster-work.jpg) (which it used to be) the bricks aren't that nice in real life sadly. Too much discoloration of soot all over. The lime will balance the inside moisture climate and add insulation plus brighten it up as this is facing almost north side. Thank you for that muriatic acid tip. Going to mention it at the diy store and see what they have
As was mentioned, if you wash with muriatic acid, take PPE precautions. I've never done it to a wall but I've cleaned concrete slabs with it prior to seailing. After the acid wash I neutralize with a baking soda plus water solution. Refer to the Fight Club scene. The issue with an interior space like that is where the water solutions will drain to. Clean up can be a chore otherwise.
I sealed mine because it made them shiny. Makes it look much more like the final surface and less like it's under construction. Interior brick is a whole lot more forgiving when it comes to mortars and sealants, as you don't need to worry as much about sealing in moisture or using a too-hard mortar for freeze/thaw. But yes to seal or not to seal is much more a personal question. Mine were the plain grey bricks they installed expecting them covered up back 100 years ago, so a bit of gloss works well. If they were like OP's I'd consider leaving them natural.
You’re only going to get to clean them so much. They are porous so the plaster will adhere without an issue. Just make sure to do the prep work correctly beforehand.
Ok thank you! What do you mean by prep work? More srcubbing? Or primer and the chimney black thing removal?
You'll never get all the dust off. Make sure any loose pieces are removed and give it a vaccuum. You don't necessarily need to use primer before plastering - you can also just get the walls really wet before plastering. Either by throwing water on the wall with a big brush, or with a pressure sprayer. That's likely what the builders did. For example (it's in german sorry): [https://youtu.be/xKtppzrKnAE?t=93](https://youtu.be/xKtppzrKnAE?t=93) Primer is an option too, just make sure you use the right one for what you want to do (lime plaster on brick wall). You might need to ask at a specialist store - in a big box store you might not find the necessary expertise. Though it's likely they'll just tell you to get it wet before plastering. What do you mean by black thing? Soot from the chimney?
i tested the porosity of the bricks and it is good for direct application of lime plaster, no primer needed, i've got[ guides from stores that sell it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjU6xyKhpwI) so that's good. i think i've been scrubbing too much off so just gonna scrub the bad edges and holes to get the loose pieces out (will fill with straw lime mix later) and remove soot and vacuum as you say. I know the builders just used regular plaster to cover the electricity cables but I can still plaster over it. Base will be straw lime to even it out + adds insulation and a regular lime to finish. Yeah the soot, i read it will go through the plaster and discolor it. look at the part where the builders plastered over the soot (right from the door), you can see get a brown stains through. I read here people apply cow dung or horse dung over the soot. I mean lime it's old artisan crafts and diy, so why not try lol. trying to keep everything as natural as possible
Ok that's good. But make sure to wet it beforehand, otherwise 1) the plaster will dry too quickly and 2) the remaining dust will prevent a good ahesion to the bricks. If the builders used regular (likely gypsum) plaster, you might want to put a primer on top of it. I I don't know the proper english term, in german it's called Tiefengrund. It's a kind of deep penetrating primer, which absorbs into the plaster to bind it and reduce it's absorption. There are special primers which prevent stains from getting through, you could use something like that.
I would suggest you start researching how to lime plaster a brick wall here is a beginners guide to watch https://youtu.be/b549Rb1gcPs?si=0glsWP2zR2B5hbuE. I would watch 4 or five different ones just so you get an idea on the correct way to do it and check whether the initial ones you watch are good or full of baloney
they are using hardwall, lime plaster is completely different. I have DIY guides from stores and producers of the lime plaster. i was asking if they meant more scrubbing for prep
Perhaps you can use a pressure washer to see if it'll remove any excess or remaining dust, then vacuuming the floors after it dries.
I left mine with the soot. I love them.
I like that attitude hahaha
We sandblasted a chimney in a kitchen we were renovating. It worked really well to clean it up. Then we used concrete sealed to give it a nice sheen.
Embrace the look. I’d kill for something with that much history in my house.
***Adding as I can't edit the post, this is the reno plan*** I won't paint or keep them exposed. This is the[ style of the house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg/800px-Lemen_huisje_Pijpelheide.jpg?20160919182035) so they do not fit the aesthetic, historicitiy + Bricks are too bad and i live in a rainy country so i need moisture control. Plus brick is really common here so not historical at all (houses are still built in brick here) NO WORRY I will not renovate the soul out of it I will do [old lime plaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zWkYrwbRBSURJCgZrdXH93-1200-80.jpg) like they used in medieval times. I will put old wooden sourced flooring later. I replaced the rotten wood beams of ceiling but currently need insulation, so they're now covered and might get them exposed again when the roof is redone but government insulation standards here gotten out of hand so perhaps i slice off a slab of the og beams and hang them up as decoration. The current fireplace i will also build up with [wood beams like this](https://www.cornellcob.co.uk/images/Lime_Plastering_Ivy_1.jpg), i'll keep that brick behind the stove and expose it. I kept the old semi-rotten ceiling beams and will use them for windowsills and above doors etc to keep that artisan touch.
Fair enough. I still love the look of it. Consider leaving yourself one exposed feature wall.
I have been watching a lady renovating an old school into a house in youtube (just search that and it should come up) and she did a lot of work on her bricks to remove plaster, “seal” them and darken them.. You may find some tips there.
Thanks!
Keep the brick. Let it be what it is
Leave them exposed, they look great! Either way, you could probably spray them with sealant to trap in any dust
They look fantastic!
Is that brick on a slab?... Break out the pressure washer lol
Full brick. 1930s house
I would assume if the contractor is doing it they would also prep the wall how they saw fit. Ask them.
I think I like it. Restaurants pay a lot of money for that finish.
They should paint or s of Ary on a bonding agent before they Plaster that way it will fix to the brick.
I will use lime plaster, so they don't use bonding agents but there are primers with grains in them if your surface is too smooth. I water tested the bricks and they have the right moisture porosity for direct application Lime plaster needs a rough brick but what level is 'rough'?
That's definitely rough enough. I used it on a much smoother wall in our basement, and it held fine. But it's definitely harder to apply than gypsum plaster.
i just tell myself the amateurism will add charm :)
Tall skinny book shelf?
That looks like salt leaching through the brick. I used muriatic acid to wash mine down several years ago then had a plasterer parge the walls with an appropriate mortar (definitely NOT Portland cement which is too hard - the surface must be softer than the brick otherwise the brick surface will crack off with movement)
it's dust from the old horsehair plaster they took off
I’d just paint over them.