Walls

There are many ways to remove paint from walls. They differ in speed of execution, require certain knowledge and compliance with safety standards.

By making the right choice, you can significantly facilitate repair work and speed up its completion.

In this article, we will look at all the known ways to remove paint from walls yourself.

What you need: tools and accessories

To clean the wall from the paint composition, The following tools and accessories may be required:

1. Roller and brushes.
2. Rags and sponges.
3. Tools: hammer, spatula, chisel, drill, grinder, axe, pick.
4. Construction hairdryer and iron.
5. Chemicals: solvents and paint thinners.
6. Personal protective equipment: respirator, goggles, gloves.
7. Bucket, spray bottle and water.

The set and method of action will differ depending on the chosen cleaning method.

How to remove paint with a spatula?

A spatula is a plate with a handle. To remove paint from walls, you need to choose a steel tool. Plastic or wooden plates will not cope with the task.

Mode of application:

1. Make notches on the wall using a spatula.
2. Moisten it generously with water.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes.
4. Treat the wall, holding the spatula almost perpendicular to the wall. Tap her.
5. Using a sharp spatula, pry up the remaining paint and tear it off the surface with sharp movements.

To carry out the work, it is better to purchase 2 spatulas: with a wide and narrow spatula.

How to remove with a chisel and hammer?

A chisel is a cutting tool that is used for carving various materials.. With its help you can get rid of old paint on the walls.

However, it will be difficult to remove it from large areas. The work may take several months.

Mode of application:

• the chisel is placed against the wall at an acute angle;
• tap its base with a hammer;
• I systematically process the entire surface of the wall.

You need to choose a tool with a wide blade. This will increase the speed of work.

With an ax or pickaxe

You can use an ax and a pick to remove paint. Both of these tools are equipped with a handle and a metal pointed bar.

Mode of application:

• moisten the wall generously with water;
• make notches on it every 10 cm;
• Clean off any loose paint with the edge of an ax or pick.

You need to work with tools carefully, calculating each blow. If you apply them very hard to the wall, then there will be dents on it that will have to be puttied.

How to quickly remove with a drill with attachments?

A drill is an electric tool. It can be used to remove paint if you use special attachments.

As practice shows, it is most effective to use a chain, since brushes and abrasive wheels crush the coating, turning it into dust. The work is labor-intensive and ineffective. The chain, on the contrary, knocks off the paint in large pieces.

Mode of application:

1. The chain is secured with bolts.
2. Connect the device to the network.
3. Clean off the coating by holding the drill at an angle to the wall.

This method removes paint quickly and without any physical effort. The downside is the significant noise that the tool makes and the appearance of a large amount of construction debris.

Cleaning with a grinder

You can deal with old paint on the walls using a grinder. To do this you need to choose the right nozzle:

1. petal circle. It removes paint well, but almost instantly becomes clogged and loses its functionality.
2. Metal brushes. With their help you can get rid of paint, but the process will be lengthy. Brushes turn it into dust and remove it layer by layer.
3. Grinding wheel with abrasive grain. This is the best option for repair work. However, in larger areas it may be necessary to change the nozzle several times.

• install the selected nozzle;
• connect the device to the network;
• treat the wall.

In hard-to-reach places and corners, you will have to clean off the coating using more maneuverable tools, for example, using a spatula.

We use an iron

It is recommended to use the iron only in extreme cases.

There are several reasons for this:

1. The method is fire hazardous.
2. When heated, the paint releases caustic substances.
3. It needs to be cleaned quickly and warmed up for a long time.
4. The device is inconvenient to operate.
5. An iron cannot handle a thick layer of paint.

The heating device can only be used to clean a small surface of the wall.

Algorithm of actions:

• turn on the iron and wait for it to heat up;
• work through a section of the wall through foil;
• remove melted paint with a spatula.

Construction hairdryer

You can get rid of old paint on the walls using a hair dryer.

Mode of application:

1. Protect your respiratory system with a respirator.
2. Turn on the hair dryer.
3. Heat the wall.
4. Clean off the melted mixture.

The process is long, but the effect is noticeable. Do not use a hair dryer to treat walls near sockets, switches or other flammable elements.

Blowtorch

A blowtorch is a heating device that operates on the basis of a flammable substance:

• alcohol,
• gasoline,
• kerosene.

Some craftsmen use it to remove paint from walls. However, you need to work with the tool extremely carefully.

Features of its use:

• prepare the lamp for use;
• bring the flame to the paint, heat it until bubbles appear;
• turn off the device;
• remove the softened coating with a spatula.

This method is labor-intensive. During operation, toxic fumes are released into the air. Therefore, it is permissible to use a blowtorch only in rooms with excellent ventilation. The respiratory organs are protected with a respirator.

Solvents and removers

You can remove paint using special solutions. They are sold in hardware stores.

The products must be used according to the instructions:

1. Remove dust and dirt from the wall.
2. Apply the composition to its surface.
3. Leave for effect.
4. Clean off the paint with a spatula.

The holding time of the composition differs, depending on the aggressiveness of its components.

Top 3 best products

The best products for removing paint from walls:

1. Gel Owatrol Marine D1. This is a powerful water-based solvent that is suitable for removing any paint. You can get rid of 8 layers of coating at one time.

   The gel has a thick consistency. It is applied to the wall in a thick layer and left until the paint is completely dissolved. All you have to do is remove it with a brush and water. The cost of 1 liter of product is 1320 rubles.

2. Solvent 646. Moisten a roller or brush with the liquid, apply it to the wall, leave for 3-5 minutes, after which the softened paint is removed with a spatula. The cost of 1 liter is 200 rubles.
3. Antikras wash. The product contains solvents that allow you to get rid of even old coatings. The liquid is applied to the wall in an even layer, left for 3-15 minutes, after which the paint is removed with a spatula. The cost of 1 kg of remover is 400 rubles. For 1 sq. m. it takes about 0.15 kg of product.

Homemade composition

To prepare the wash yourself, you will need the following components:

• 2 parts ammonia.
• 1 part turpentine.

The resulting composition is applied to the wall and left for 20 minutes. When the coating begins to swell and fall off, it is removed with a spatula. Since the product has a pungent odor, you need to wear a respirator when working.

Which method is better to choose and why?

In each specific situation it is better to resort to a certain method, namely:

1. The safest way to remove oil paint is mechanically.Its heat treatment can lead to fire if the wall surface is heated for too long.

   Professional repairmen do not recommend using a blowtorch or iron at all. If the choice nevertheless fell on heat treatment of the walls, then you need to stop at a construction hair dryer.

2. Chemical methods for removing old coating are considered effective, but you need to choose professional products. It is recommended to use them in well-ventilated areas and strictly according to the instructions.
3. It is most convenient to clean water-based paint using newspapers. To do this, they are glued to the wall. When the composition dries, the paper is simply torn off with sharp movements. The coloring composition will come off along with it.
4. When processing large areas, it is most rational to use electric tools: a drill with a chain or a grinder. Otherwise, the paint cleaning process will take several weeks.
5. Corners and other hard-to-reach places are worked out with a spatula or chisel. You can also use solvents.

Do-it-yourself removal of different types of paint

There are recommendations for removing different types of paint. The choice of cleaning composition depends on this.

Cleaning different types of surfaces

Depending on the base of the surface on which the coloring composition is applied, the methods for removing it will differ.

Preparation for wallpaper

In order for the wallpaper to stick well, the layer on which it is attached must be stronger and heavier than it. If they weigh more, they will very soon simply move away from the wall. Therefore, all cracked paint must be cleaned off. Defects must be puttied.

You can check whether the wallpaper will be securely fixed in a simple way: apply glue to the wall and leave until completely dry. If it is securely fixed and does not come off in the form of a film, then you can start gluing.

Oil and alkyd paints are sanded with sandpaper. The formed depressions will improve the adhesion of the glue to the surface.

Before covering a wall with wallpaper, you need to remove dust and other contaminants from it, and then prime it. They will adhere firmly to such a surface, even if all the coloring composition is not cleaned off.

The most common mistakes

When performing work, inexperienced repairmen make the following mistakes:

1. To remove paint from large areas, only manual labor is used, for example, using a spatula. This takes a lot of time and effort. It is better to give preference to power tools.
2. Remove paint using a solvent in rooms with poor ventilation. Inhalation of toxic fumes can cause poisoning.
3. Overheat the walls using a hair dryer or blowtorch. Such carelessness may cause a fire.
4. Working too hard on the wall with an ax or similar tool. It will be difficult to cope with the emerging irregularities.

You cannot work without gloves, regardless of the chosen paint removal method.

Important Tips

Tips to take into account:

1. If the paint has peeled off and cracked, then its dismantling is mandatory. Walls on which the coating fits tightly and cannot be cleaned mechanically can be left untouched.
2. You can warm up the wall only in places where there are no wires or sockets.
3. Personal protective equipment should always be used.
4. When working with heating appliances, you should take care of your own safety and have fire extinguishing agents on hand.

Help from professionals

If you don’t want to remove the paint from the walls yourself, you can turn to specialists for help.The cost of work is determined by its volume. For each square meter you will have to pay at least 100 rubles.

You can find professional repairmen through advertisements in newspapers, on the Internet or on TV.

Preference should be given to those teams that have their own office. The longer the company operates, the better. Positive feedback is welcome.

To check them, you can try to contact the people who left them. The speed of work depends on the area of ​​the room. A standard kitchen or bathroom takes no more than 2-3 days.

You can find out more about how to remove paint from kitchen walls yourself. Here, from the walls in the bathroom - here.

Conclusion

Before making a choice in favor of a particular method, you need to compare its advantages and disadvantages, evaluate the nature of the coating and the type of coloring matter. It is important to start from the time that a person is willing to spend on repairs and from his financial capabilities.