How to properly remove old paint from wood?

Faded or cracked paint on a wooden frame, while giving a home a vintage feel, is by no means a decoration. Of course, unless this is a design idea. Read about how to properly remove old paint from wood in this article.

Removing old paint from window frames, doors, old furniture and other wood coatings requires some knowledge and skill. How to determine that such a procedure is really needed?

• It all depends on the number of layers on the wood. If the previous paint was applied in one layer, you can start painting without removing the coating. It will be enough to sandpaper the paint until the shine disappears and the old coating acts as a primer. It is important that the product is free of paint drips and flaws in the texture, then the fresh paint will lay down in an even, beautiful layer.
• The color of the previous coating plays a huge role. If you want to apply a light color over a dark layer, remember that the shade will most likely not turn out exactly what you want. In this case, the best option is to apply two or more layers of paint.

Please note that if the product was painted more than 5 years ago, then, most likely, cracks and bulges have already formed on it. In addition, modern materials differ from previous analogs not only in quality and color fastness, but also in texture. In such a situation, the cover will have to be completely removed.

There are several types of wood paints and varnishes. Before removing old paint from wood, it is worth determining what type of coating it belongs to. This will allow you to choose the best way to remove it.

The most popular means for painting wooden surfaces has been and remains water-based paint. It is characterized by matte colors, moisture-repellent properties, a wide range of colors and affordable valuable. Water-based paint is waterproof and non-waterproof. The first one is quite difficult to remove from any surface.

No less popular are water-based (or latex) paints. They are most common in the construction industry, and all due to the many benefits. Latex paints are absolutely harmless, have a rich palette of colors, and are fireproof. They are characterized by high durability of the coating and are effective protection against fire.

Acrylic paints are often used to paint decorative elements made of wood. There is even a special stained glass acrylic that can be applied to glass, wood, plastic and even fabric. The composition of acrylic paints includes water, a coloring pigment, acrylic acid and a film former, which helps to quickly solidify the layer.

Previously, oil paints were in the lead in paints and varnishes, but today they are slowly becoming obsolete. Their lack of demand is due to toxicity, unpleasant odor, and the complexity of application. If the tree is covered with oil paint, no other paint will stick on top.

Often, whitewash is used as a coating for wood, which at all times was considered an excellent antiseptic. Whitewashing protects walls well, disinfects the air. Today it is mainly used for processing hidden wooden parts: floor beams, floor joists, rafters.

There are three ways to remove old paint from wood:

• mechanical;
• chemical;
• thermal.

The mechanical method of removing paint from wood products can be carried out manually or using special tools. All the necessary materials and tools for performing work, for example, such as sandpaper or a spatula, can be easily found in the nearest hardware store.

When choosing sanding paper, pay attention to its grain size. Coarse-grained nozzles contribute to the formation of cavities and scratches in the wood. It is best to use this type of paper if the coating consists of several layers of paint. Change the attachment as soon as you can see the tree. Remember that such work should be carried out on a dry surface, be sure to observe safety precautions.

The chemical method of processing involves the use of special acids and solvents., which should be selected taking into account the type of old paint. Manufacturing companies claim that these products ensure the dissolution of any paint, regardless of its age. However, as practice shows, such fluids are able to actively fight only with a fresh coating (up to 2 years ago).

Using chemical agents, the surface of the product is covered with a thin layer of liquid. It is necessary to wait a certain amount of time indicated on the package - this will allow the old paint to soften and it can be quickly peeled off the wood with a regular spatula.

When working with chemical compounds, it is necessary to take care of airing the room or to remove the coating on the street. You need to work in overalls, a respirator, goggles and rubber gloves.

The thermal treatment method is suitable for removing paints based on oils or varnish. As the name suggests, it becomes clear that processing involves heating the coating until the layers of paint soften. Heating is usually carried out using a hot air gun or iron.

Thermal exposure is ideal if the paint has been applied for years. With prolonged heating, even an overly hardened coating will soften.

If the ceiling and walls are painted with a non-waterproof emulsion, the room must be prepared before carrying out the work:

• cover the floor, furniture, decor items and even a stretch ceiling with foil or newspapers;
• prepare protective clothing, goggles, gloves, respirator;
• prepare a container with warm water, if required by the processing method;
• Prepare all the tools you may need in advance.

When removing an old layer of paint from plastic, it should be preheated to 60-70 degrees. It is better to postpone such operations to summer time in order to exclude deformation of the plastic due to temperature differences.

When painting wooden window frames, drops of paint often fall on the glass; in fact, it is not so easy to remove them.Removing paint from glass surfaces requires special skill. Usually small dirt can be simply scraped off, but this requires care. You can slightly heat the glass with a building hair dryer, this will help soften the already hardened paint.

Often during paintwork, drops of paint fall on metal surfaces. Removing paint from metal also requires preliminary preparation. First, the surface must be cleaned of dust and dirt, otherwise the process may slow down significantly. In addition, before carrying out this operation, it is advisable to dismantle the elements that may be damaged during cleaning.

Typically, wood is treated with various chemical compounds that exfoliate the top layer of the coating. If the wood is covered with shellac, then it will be more effective to use ordinary denatured alcohol.

Liquid formulations are good for single coat. But powder products are suitable for treating a large area.

Machining the coating is one of the most effective ways to remove paint. This can be attributed to sanding by hand or using a grinding machine (diamond cup).

In addition to the above agents, special chemical washes are often used, which contain dimethyl chloride, formic acid and other organic substances. Such reagents are characterized by a rapid decay process, therefore, they are considered practically harmless.

There are several ways to remove paintwork using DIY products.

Water emulsion can be easily removed using paste or wallpaper glue. The entire surface of the product is coated with glue and newspapers are glued. After the glue dries, the paper is removed with a spatula, along with which the paint will be removed from the wood.

When using mechanical paint removal methods, it is better to give preference to a drill with a special nozzle. A brush with metal bristles is used as a nozzle, which copes well with the processing of a multilayer water-based coating - it cannot be peeled off with a spatula. The only drawback of this method is the large formation of dust in the apartment, therefore, when carrying out such work in the kitchen, you need to cover the furniture with foil.

Knowing some of the nuances of removing paint from wood, plastic, concrete, glass, you can easily and simply cope with this task:

• you need to clean the coating with a spatula with gentle movements, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the tree;
• if it is possible to carry out all the work on washing or removing paint, it is better to transfer it to the street;
• be sure to use goggles, overalls, gloves, respirator;
• to reduce the risk of injury, take care of proper lighting;
• processing with large products is best done on a stable table;
• when processing slats, beams, frame parts, use a vice.

See the video below for ways to remove old paint.