# I own a home! (How do I remove fake brick?) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350 "2007-03-10T04:25:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/1 "2007-03-10T04:25:20Z")
All went well today. I now am a home owner, or more precisely, I am in debt for a house. The movers come in a week and before that, I need to paint two rooms and a hallway. Anyone have any clues on how to remove fake brick from an interior wall? One of the rooms is a bathroom, and really I would rather have it tiled the rest of the way. It is tiled to 18 inches from the ceiling and the rest and the ceiling are painted. One issue is that on the back of the tub, there seems to be plaster filled in so it is flush with the tile. The paint is peeling, and bright orange, so I have to do something. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/2 "2007-03-10T04:34:37Z")
Mazeltov! No idea on the fake brick. Take a jack hammer to it. It’s **Your** house! ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/3 "2007-03-10T04:48:21Z")
Big freakin’ hammer and a crowbar? Sorry, I got nuthin. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/4 "2007-03-10T04:55:06Z")
Is the fake brick connected to anything that might be harmed when you remove it-- cabinets, for instance? If so, it might be wiser just to paint over it. If it isn’t connected to anything, you’ll just have to use brute strength to get it off, and do plenty of patching up afterwards. There is no product that can make that job easier for you, insofar as I can tell. Congratulations on the new house. Everything doesn’t have to be done right away, a house is always a work-in-progress, to a certain extent. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/5 "2007-03-10T05:06:15Z")
nuther vote for brute strength. It’s probably studs behind it. Drywall over it. The secret to mudding is patience. Let it dry for at least a day and go gradually wider. You can do it. The first time you do drywall it’s ugly. You’ll go back in five years and redo it. With that knowledge, jump in! ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/6 "2007-03-10T07:42:42Z")
I can’t wait on this. I don’t want very rough fake brick in the nursery, and the baby is due in May. I have patched drywall before with success, so that is not really that scary. It is just on a wall, not on a cabinet or something vital. There is more fake brick in the family room, but only a bit around the fireplace and it is rather better done than this little corner of hell. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/7 "2007-03-10T08:29:45Z")
When a buddy of mine needed some similiar de-remodeling done, I found a case of beer and a crowbar was quite cathartic. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/8 "2007-03-10T14:22:09Z")
Explosives! WHHEEEE-EEE! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/9 "2007-03-10T15:51:46Z")
[QUOTE=lee] I can’t wait on this. I don’t want very rough fake brick in the nursery, and the baby is due in May. I have patched drywall before with success, so that is not really that scary. It is just on a wall, not on a cabinet or something vital. There is more fake brick in the family room, but only a bit around the fireplace and it is rather better done than this little corner of hell. [/QUOTE] Another BABY? Congrats! I think you pry it off. It’ll prolly fuck up whatever it was attached to, so you will prolly have to re-drywall anyway. Ooooh…have fun! _Dust for everyone!_ ---
**Author:** ![lilflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@lilflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilflower)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/10 "2007-03-10T16:53:14Z")
You should try diynetwork.com - you can search articles or post a message. I’ve had a lot of good luck getting helpful answers regarding remodeling from this site. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/11 "2007-03-11T02:50:55Z")
Well, The brick is adhered to masonite. There was no possibility of leaving it there and painting, as the fake brick did not extend to behind the fake fireplace. The brick is dam difficult to pry off the masonite. Chisel and sledge do the trick, tomorrow we are going to get a wider chisel. The fake brick extends over the drywall about 2 inches. I have decided to build in a cedar cabinet which can be used as a changing table rather than put up more dry wall. To that end I bought a bosch 4000 table saw. I also want to line the coat closet in cedar, and would far rather start with large cedar boards than those itty bitty cedar panels which are so expensive. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/12 "2007-03-13T01:06:37Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Another BABY? Congrats! I think you pry it off. It’ll prolly fuck up whatever it was attached to, so you will prolly have to re-drywall anyway. Ooooh…have fun! _Dust for everyone!_ [/QUOTE] Yes, another baby. His name will be David and he is supposed to be here in about two months. I am surprised how little dust removing the brick is kicking up. Flying chips are more of an issue. Now the sanding of the paint kicks up dust, so we wear masks. I really can’t do that much right now. I am tired and sore a lot. For some reason he seems a lot bigger than my daughter was and kicks harder too. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/13 "2007-03-13T18:54:35Z")
[QUOTE=lee] To that end I bought a bosch 4000 table saw. I also want to line the coat closet in cedar, and would far rather start with large cedar boards than those itty bitty cedar panels which are so expensive. [/QUOTE] And congrats on the saw. I’ve got one of those, and it’s a nice one, especially for how portable it is. (You did get the gravity stand, right?) The stock blade’s pretty good, as stock blades go, but have a look at upgrading, especially if you plan on doing finish work - Amazon’s got a good deal going on Freud blades, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better brand. It’s amazing how many tools you’ll be buying. After I bought my house, the immediate purchase was a lawn mower, plus a mess of rakes, shovels, hoses and similar outdoor implements that apartment dwellers have no need for. Then came a slide miter saw when it was time to lay a floor and its moldings, then the table saw, plus all sorts of doo-dads along the way like a basin wrench and an extra-long drill bit for running phone and network cables. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/14 "2007-03-13T20:40:05Z")
Wishing you luck and joy in your new home! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/15 "2007-03-14T01:16:57Z")
Where did you wind up buying? -jngl -grew up in Park Ridge, currently in Jefferson Park, Chi ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/16 "2007-03-14T03:11:34Z")
[QUOTE=jnglmassiv] Where did you wind up buying? -jngl -grew up in Park Ridge, currently in Jefferson Park, Chi [/QUOTE] Unincorporated Cook County, near Northlake. I have over a third of an acre, and 1900 sq ft of living space. The house is in very good condition and is mainly cinder block and poured concrete construction with siding on it, rather than stick built. I looked in Jeff Park and Park Ridge, but both are too pricey for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/17 "2007-03-14T13:20:21Z")
Enjoy! Glad it worked out for you. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the financing and other hassles fade as you make this house your home! How long til Straightdope Northlake? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-a-home-how-do-i-remove-fake-brick/395350/18 "2007-03-14T15:14:04Z")
Congratulations on your new home! It sounds as though it’s your first one. You have many years of tool purchases ahead of you. 😃