Removing layers of paint from architrave, skirting and wood

jonwestuk · 28 May 2014

Hi,

I am renovating my house and have an awful lot of architrave, skirting and wood that I need to strip back. There are so many layers of paint that the existing material has lost its sharpness and looks tired.

Sanding, using chemicals or heat to remove it will take absolutely ages so I am wondering if there are faster methods such as sand blasting etc.

Can anyone suggest what the quickest methods would be? I would also be interested in the negatives of sandblasting such things.

Thanks,

Jon

sparkwright · 28 May 2014

The first question is how major is the house renovation: Is the wood in question worth saving, and would it be worthwhile fitting new architraves and skirting boards?

I should point out it's usually more desirable to keep all original features, but if it's nothing particularly special, or the renovation requires some of it to be altered, it may be easier to replace some of it.

Depends what you're like at woodwork, and how special the mouldings etc are to you.

jonwestuk · 28 May 2014

None of the architraves are particularly amazing. They are in a late 1960s house. I could replace them I suppose and then just take the time on a couple of the wood features which are not removable, stairway skirting and we have a large wood/glass wall which will need cleaning up.

WalksWithTurkeys · 28 May 2014

I find sanding down quicker than stripping, which is a right royal PITA. replacing the wood is probably quickest. If you do strip, avoid high street products, they are expensive, and not always effective. I have used 3 products from these people:

http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/

You can buy samplers. The cost is lower than the high street, and the products are tailored to the paint and substrate. SolviStrip might be the one for woodwork. I have no financial or commerical connection to these people. I think Nitromors used to be good, but not any more since the regs changed.

Oh, and bear in mind that stripper is not cheap, so it might be cheaper to buy and fit new wood. And quicker!

WalksWithTurkeys · 28 May 2014

Duplicate!

geraldthehamster · 28 May 2014

jonwestuk said:
None of the architraves are particularly amazing. They are in a late 1960s house. I could replace them I suppose and then just take the time on a couple of the wood features which are not removable, stairway skirting and we have a large wood/glass wall which will need cleaning up.

You could replace them with nicer carpentry. Say 7" ogee, or torus.

Cheers
Richard

sparkwright · 28 May 2014

As mentioned above, sanding may well be the answer.

It seems a house as new as the late 60s shouldn't have so much paint on the architraves to lose THAT much detail.

I would have thought a very good sanding would be more desirable than stripping or replacement.

oldschoolmechanic · 28 May 2014

jonwestuk said:
None of the architraves are particularly amazing. They are in a late 1960s house. I could replace them I suppose and then just take the time on a couple of the wood features which are not removable, stairway skirting and we have a large wood/glass wall which will need cleaning up.

Take care with old paint in a 1960's house in case it contains lead.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives....munity/InYourHome/KeepingSafeAtHome/DG_179814

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...data/file/221085/pb10973-leadpaintleaflet.pdf

Just saying ...

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Removing layers of paint from architrave, skirting and wood

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