How to create an exposed brick wall
First, what you’ll need:
brick chisel
small crow bar
plastic sheets
Scrubbing brush
brick sealer
Dust mask and eye protection
Step 1
Protective sheets. As you can imagine, removing plaster from your brick wall is a tricky job. This is particularly important if you have an older house with the original plaster. While it may seem like a bit of work, it’s definitely worth using plastic sheeting (paint sheeting is perfect) and taping it to the walls and ceiling to completely seal off the area you’re working on. It is also highly recommended to wear a mask to protect your lungs from plaster dust, and even eye protection, as dust can easily irritate your eyes.
Step 2
Pretty easy to see what follows. Simply cut a hole in the plaster with your brick chisel. This is a good opportunity to expose a small area of the brick, perhaps somewhere hidden, to see if the quality of the brick underneath is good. Once you’ve created a hole, you can use the chisel or a small pry bar to remove the plaster. Just tap it lightly to get behind the cast and make it level. Be careful not to damage the bricks with the chisel or crowbar by hitting too hard. When you get to the ceiling and side walls, be sure to remove the plaster carefully without damaging the adjacent plaster.
Step 3
Once all the bricks are exposed, the next step is to clean the bricks. Some people use acid to do this, but this can be messy and dangerous and isn’t really necessary. You will only need a little warm water and a sponge to clean the bricks. Clean the dust with the sponge by wringing it regularly in the bucket. Repeat this 2 or 3 times replacing the water between each time until most of the dust has been removed from the bricks. If there are any noticeable cracks or holes in the bricks, now it’s your turn to patch them up with some cement. Small cracks and holes are fine, just the ones that can affect the look of the wall.
Step 4
Wall sealing. There are several types of sealers available to seal bricks. Keep an eye out for brick sealers in particular. You usually have a choice between gloss and matte and most people prefer a matte solution as it looks more natural. Follow the directions on the can for applying the sealer, which typically suggest applying it 2-3 times. The sealer will also darken the appearance of the bricks with each coat.
Let it dry and voila!