Advice from experienced craftsmen on how to quickly remove putty from a wall at home

Removing putty from the wall is one of the most unpleasant and time-consuming stages of indoor renovation work.

Knowledge of various methods, preparation of the room itself and the necessary tools will help you cope with the task.

Read on to learn how to quickly remove old putty from a wall.

Complete layer removal: why is it important?

In preparation for a major renovation, the existing coating (paint, wallpaper, etc.) is removed from the walls. Underneath there is a layer of putty.

The reasons why it is necessary to eliminate the old layer is its wear and loss of technical characteristics:

1. Loss of strength.
2. Loss of abrasive resistance.
3. Reduced resistance to temperature changes and humidity levels.

An unreliable putty coating can literally fall off even during the final decoration of the walls at the finishing stage. Therefore, the purpose of removing the old layer is to ensure the strength and reliability of the new coating.

The lack of ideal evenness of the putty coating affects the appearance and quality of the final result of the wall repair. After many years of service, the characteristics of materials decrease, defects become more noticeable.

In addition to wear and tear, the reason to remove old putty is the fungus and mold that has appeared on it.

Preparatory work

When planning to remove a layer of putty, you need to prepare for repair work. To achieve this, the following activities are carried out:

• free the walls by removing wall decorations, shelves, fasteners, etc.;
• the furniture is taken out of the room (if this is not possible, then they are simply moved away from the walls);
• household appliances, clothes and other small items are removed from the premises;
• the floor is covered with cellophane;
• prepare tools and a stepladder;
• the entrance to the room is closed;
• A wet rag is placed on the threshold of the room.

Removing plaster is a job that is accompanied by the formation of a large amount of dirt and dust.

How to remove mechanically?

There are several ways to remove the putty layer from the walls. One of the methods or a set of measures will come to the rescue. Removing putty by hand is a labor-intensive task. The choice of method depends on the condition of the coating:

The most effective way to remove putty coating by mechanical means is to use a grinder.

Removing a thin layer of putty with a scraper - in the video:

Chemical methods

To remove the putty more easily, water and available preparations can be used. You can moisten the surface in one of the following ways:

• wet brush;
• sponge;
• roller;
• spray.

If simply moistening the surface with water does not give the desired effect, you will have to use other methods. The simplest and most accessible is using starch.

Procedure:

1. Pour 5 liters of warm water into a bucket.
2. Add 10 tablespoons of starch.
3. Stir.
4. Apply the composition to the walls in a convenient way.
5. Remove the putty.

It is recommended to remove the putty layer, starting with difficult areas.

A solution with copper sulfate is another option for treating walls that will help remove the putty layer. Preparation of the solution:

• pour 5 liters of hot water into a bucket;
• add 250 grams of copper sulfate powder;
• stir.

The resulting solution coats the walls well. To do this, do not spare the mixture, but use it so that the entire putty is saturated with it.

Features of ceiling cleaning

Cleaning the ceiling is an even more difficult job than cleaning the walls. The main difficulty is that stripping is inconvenient.

And only after that do they pick up a spatula. Using a power tool, such as an angle grinder or a grinder, will help speed up the process.

When cleaning a ceiling, even greater demands are placed on personal protective equipment.

Removing old coating depending on the type of surface

When starting to remove a layer of putty, you should take into account the type of base material. This is necessary in order not to damage it.

Tree

Putty is removed from wooden walls by mechanical means - with a spatula or electrical devices. Wood base requires careful handling, as it can easily be damaged by mechanical action.

Drywall

It is not difficult to remove the putty coating from drywall.

Non-moisture resistant mixtures are most often used, which, when moistened with water, promote swelling of the composition. On average this happens in 30-40 minutes. In this form, the layer can easily be removed with a regular spatula.

If a moisture-resistant mixture was used, you will have to use a starch solution. The solution is stirred and applied with a wide brush or brush, and left for 20 minutes to act. After this, cleaning is performed.

In some cases, even such an integrated approach does not give an ideal result and needs to be supplemented. A solution of copper sulfate helps remove the remaining fragments of the putty coating. It is kept on the surface for another quarter of an hour and the remaining composition is removed.

It is not recommended to use a hammer drill for cleaning plasterboard walls., since if you do not calculate the pressure correctly, you can easily damage the base.

Gypsum plaster

It is not advisable to use methods that involve soaking the putty, since the surface of the base does not tolerate moisture well.In this case, mechanical methods of influence are optimal.

Concrete

Concrete walls allow you to use an intense electric tool and soaking to remove the plaster - the base will withstand.

Security measures

When carrying out work, following safety measures will help:

1. Using a power tool is only possible after reading the instructions for it.
2. Work carried out at height requires a carefully installed, serviceable and reliable stepladder.
3. Personal protective equipment should include special clothing, as well as a respirator and goggles.
4. The use of power tools is not allowed if the room humidity is high.
5. You should not start removing the putty before determining where the wiring is located in the wall and how it is located. Without this knowledge, there is a possibility of damaging it with an electrical appliance.

Recommendations

For better quality work, It is recommended to take advice from professionals:

1. The thicker the putty layer, the more difficult it is to remove. Most often this is typical for the secondary housing market and old buildings.
2. It is necessary to clean off the layer completely, without leaving bald spots. The quality of the finishing coating will depend on the processing at the preparatory stage.
3. If you need to remove fresh putty, you can do without using power tools - just apply the composition with starch and clean the surface with a scraper.

Conclusion

You can remove putty from the wall using chemical and mechanical methods.The choice of method is determined by the condition of the coating, the base material and the tools available. With a thoughtful approach, it is possible to cope with the task independently on your own.