[Gregg Tschantz]

How do I remove 3 layers of paint fom my massive brick fireplace (8 ft. X 10 ft.)? I'd like to go back to the original brick.

[RickJ]

This will be a trial and error project. Sandblasting is the only sure-fire way to do it effectively, but of course that's not a good option for interiors.

They make a variety of strippers, but depending on how far the paint has penetrated the porous surface of the bricks, even the best of stuff might leave you less than happy.

I'd get a can of the most powerful stripper you can find and try it on a small section on the side near the bottom. Once you get down to the level of the brick, clean it well, and even lightly try a wire brush on it to see how well you think you can get it.

This is one of those problems that if you ask 10 people, you get 5-10 different answers, as far as "what's the best stripper"... then since you're dealing with a very porous surface, it comes down to what kind of paint was put on it and how far it sunk into the brick.