Tips For Exposing An Internal Brick Beneath Plaster And Laths

Some house flippers remove plaster and lath walls to expose the gorgeous, vintage brick beneath. Here’s the truth though: It’s often easier to remove plaster and lath walls than it is to repair them. So, if lovely brick is hidden by old, damaged plaster and lath walls, the choice is obvious. Exposing the brick will save money on materials and plenty of time. Framing old walls that have settled and shifted is a pain. Taping, mudding and painting just adds extensive man hours to a house flipping project.

Costs involved in removing plaster and lath walls pretty much only include permits, demo tools, garbage bags, a dumpster, and respiratory masks. If you’re flipping a house, those things will be needed anyway. Extra costs include brick cleaning materials and tools, of course. You’ll also need to invest in some brick sealant.

Tip #1

Don’t just smash through the walls. Not only will the plaster crumble in pieces, but the laths will break into all sizes. It will be much harder to keep your dumpster organized and stay safe.

Tip #2

Remove the plaster/sheetrock first. Leave the wooden laths. When you do it this way, it’s easier to clean and the laths often come off in whole pieces.

Tip #3

Once you’ve removed everything and cleaned up your demo debris, you can begin cleaning the brick. That’s much easier than many people expect. To remove cobwebs and dirt, use a stiff bristle brush.

If you notice stains, make sure to clean them with a mild stain remover or detergent made for masonry.  If you don’t remove the stains, they will be even more obvious once you seal the brick. Then, let the brick and mortar dry completely.

Tip #4

After cleaning and drying, you will want to seal the brick. Seriously, you absolutely want to seal the brick. Especially if you’re not just flipping the house, but keeping it as a rental property. Sealing the brick makes it less likely to crumble. Also, if you don’t seal the brick, it will be impossible to clean.

Are You Looking for a Hard Money Loan to Flip a House?

Paces Funding is a Hard Money lender offering hard money loans to purchase and renovate non-owner occupied residential and commercial properties throughout the Atlanta, Nashville, Florida, North and South Carolina metropolitan areas.

Call us at 404-814-1644 or contact us online to find out whether you might qualify for this type of funding. In the meantime, check to ensure that you meet our loan criteria. Our loan amounts can be up to 65 percent of the after-repaired value of the collateral—and if you use the loan for renovation or construction, the loan amount can be based on the collateral’s improved value.