How can I remove Alluminum Flashing & Tar left on brick?

[njapaj]

Help

Need advice as to how we can remove the old aluminium tape and residual tar left on brickwork?

Our builder who will renew with lead flashing and lower than current tape, doesn't think it can be removed (even with an acid wash)

We're happy to spend our time on it to remove (if possible) to avoid the unsightly black sticky mess left behind, but would this make it worse.
Ideally want to get back to brick - no black tar left

Any ideas??

 

[CortinaV8]

Hire a small sandblaster?

 

[noseall]

White spirits.

 

[cmother1]

Acid won't work and you'll need buckets of a hydrocarbon based solvent (like white spirit) to get it off. You'll still have residual staining in all likelihood, but it's probably your best option as a diyer. Paraffin will do the job and is probably cheaper than white spirit. When it's dry you could also try lightly abrading the surface (eg P60 abrasive sheet).
Make sure you've a massive pile of rags before you start.
And no smoking

 

[HaydnExport]

Not sure if it will work , but try scraping off as much as you can, then use a heat gun and paint scraper to get the worst off . You could use solvent to get the last off. By the sound of it it will be a lot of elbow grease used!!