What is this stuff? . . . Mystery solved, they’re Nu-Econo-Briks!

My kitchen has fake bricks glued to plywood with some kind of black rock hard foam. And how do I remove it?

Thanks

Edward Norton wrote: And how do I remove it?

I would start by using a razor blade and very carefully cut it away from the brick. Making a small hole and then cutting my way to the backing material. Then trying to take out bigger parts of the foam.

Ha!...... "Z-Brick'  https://www.z-brick.com/

I recall my dad installing some of this.....over a fireplace column that was made of.....surprise! .....REAL brick.

Yeah, the 1970s were a wacky time and the 'rec room' where said fireplace was located was finished with shag carpeting.  

I think the black adhesive for the 'veneer' brickwork was some kind of tar base  https://www.z-brick.com/z-ment.html#!/Z-MENT-BLACK/p/91721568/category=24925351

.....I'm sure it was absolutely safe (.....hmmmm).  ;-?

John Weiland wrote:Ha!...... "Z-Brick'  https://www.z-brick.com/

Yup - that looks like stuff. Got a whole kitchen covered in the stuff.

Thank you both.

We were going to wait until we ripped out the whole kitchen, but this stuff has to go. The kitchen is where we hang and it’s getting us down.

Edward Norton wrote:We were going to wait until we ripped out the whole kitchen, but this stuff has to go. The kitchen is where we hang and it’s getting us down.

Have you tried to rip up a corner of it in the kitchen? You might discover some tiled areas under some of it - probably not all of it - and not necessarily any nicer esthetically speaking, but one can hope.

I admit I go for neutral colours for tile, rather than what's "in". Paint is easier to change! Throw rugs (mine are home-made rag rugs) and removable décor are even easier to change. That said, I made/bought stuff I really liked 30+ years ago, and I still really like it. My maple table and chairs have had their seat fabric replaced, but I still like the style and they're sturdy and functional. It seemed expensive at the time for what it was - but what it was is solid, functional and comfortable!

Today I’ve been exploring the depths of the basement. It’s a massive space, 1200 sqft. (The two storey four bed house I lived in the UK was 1100 sqft.). The basement has been abused. At some point in the past, Bodgit and Phucket general contractors installed sewer pipes through doorways, steam heating pipes, water pipes, electric cables, phone cables and cable TV . . . And other yet to be identified pipes and wires. The lighting flickers and all the windows are taped over with the super itchy loft insulation that’s probably been band for a decade. So it’s dark, full of cobwebs and random boxes and huge potential. I’ve already converted one room into a workshop . . . I say converted, basically let the light in, fixed the light fitting and moved boxes of rubbish out and my tools in. One of the boxes solve this puzzle . . . They are Nu-Econo-Brik . .  Yup, you don’t even get a C, they’re that economical. Unsurprisingly no one has registered the domain ‘nueconobrik.com . . . The company was formed in 1975 and then went bust in 1993, so not much info on them, although I did stumble on some blog posts from other bemused new home owners who also had a similar WTF moment. As for the Nu Econo Brik & Stone Adhesive - it is serious stuff, like some kind of nasty offspring of tar and epoxy. I have tried several methods and the only success is removing it with the top layer of ply. No, alas, there isn’t anything pretty underneath, just more old ply.