Ken wrote: Red Paint on Brick Commonly found thin coating of red coating on exterior red brick. I need for a report to a customer a short explanation as to why it would be an HC (historic correct) preference to not strip the paint. Here's a small extract from a book entitled Colour Schemes for Old Australian Houses by yours truly and the Sydney conservation architects Clive Lucas and Ian Stapleton: "Exterior wall surfaces were sometimes coloured with a semi-transparent red oxide wash ..." The reference was describing exterior surface treatments for brick houses in the period 1820-1840. Similar treatments are also found in the period around 1900-1920 and are associated at that time with the practice of tuckpointing. -- -- Ian Evans The World of Old Houses: http://www.oldhouses.com.au Publisher: The Flannel Flower Press Pty Ltd PO Box 591, Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia 2482 Phone/fax: +612 6684 7677 Email: [log in to unmask]