The best ways to remove oil paint from walls
Cleaning walls from old oil paint is a rather complex and time-consuming process.
In some areas the coating swells and falls off, but in some places it holds very tightly and does not always respond to the influence of an iron brush or scraper.
How to remove old oil paint from walls at home? The best ways to do this are discussed in the article.
Content
How to clean at home?
The amount of time and effort spent on removing the composition from the surface directly depends on the chosen dismantling method. A large number of applied layers makes cleaning much easier.
Exists several ways to remove paint from walls. You can clean the surface using:
Construction tools such as axe, chisel and trowel. However, this method requires a lot of time and physical effort.- Special chemicals. The paint softens, comes off the walls and is easily removed with a scraper or stiff brush.
- Heating the composition using a hair dryer. Under the influence of temperature, the paint applied to the wall becomes soft.After this, it can be removed without much effort with a spatula or brush.
- Drill or grinder with special attachments.
Mechanical impact
The process of cleaning walls from oil paint using a mechanical method is the longest and most labor-intensive, but does not require any financial costs.
The essence of the mechanical method of cleaning walls is to scrape and cut down paint from the surface of the walls.
How to remove with an ax?
To clean walls using this method, the main tool is an ordinary ax.
The cleansing process takes place in several stages:
first, frequent small notches are knocked out with an ax over the entire surface to be treated;- then the wall is soaked with water using a wet rag or spray;
- after the water is absorbed, the walls are cleaned more thoroughly using the same tools;
- The final step in cleaning the walls is to sand them with sandpaper.
To prevent the water from drying out, it is better to wet and clean the surface in small areas.
How to remove using a spatula or chisel?
This method is suitable for removing paint in hard-to-reach places and corners, as well as when the oil composition is lagging behind the walls. To make the work easier, you can use a hammer to hit the handle of a chisel or spatula. The surface to be treated must also be moistened with water.
When working in this way, the tool should be sharpened periodically, as it quickly becomes dull during such work.
Thermal method
The oil composition applied to the walls softens significantly under the influence of high temperatures. When the surface is thoroughly heated, the paint can be removed with a regular spatula.
For thermal cleaning, use a hair dryer. At the same time, a small area of the surface is exposed to high temperatures and the paint is removed until it hardens again.
If you don't have a special tool, you can use a regular iron. The surface should be heated through a sheet of foil.
The thermal method is not recommended for use in areas with electrical wiring, on surfaces made of plastic and PVC. Wall treatment should be carried out in rooms with good ventilation, using respiratory protection. When exposed to high temperatures, paint releases harmful substances.
Electromechanical
The principle of this method of paint removal is similar to mechanical. Instead of an ax or chisel, a power tool is used, which makes the work much easier.
The oil composition is removed using a drill, hammer drill or grinding machine with special attachments: an abrasive wheel, a metal brush, a brick crown.
Work order when using the electromechanical method:
Firmly attach the required attachment to the tool being used.- Wear the necessary personal protective equipment (mask, goggles and gloves).
- Cover the floor and furniture with film.
- Turn on the tool and remove layers of paint from the surface one by one.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to reduce dust levels in the air.
- Clean off any remaining paint particles with sandpaper or a spatula.
The advantages of this method are the quick cleaning of large surfaces and minimal expenditure of physical force.
The disadvantages of the electromechanical method include:
- loud noise when working with the tool;
- a large amount of small debris and dust;
- impossibility of removing paint in hard-to-reach places;
- the need for a sufficient supply of nozzles, as they wear out quickly.
How to wash off with chemical compounds?
Washing off old finishing material with chemical solutions is much simpler and easier than scraping it off using construction tools.
The removal process requires strict adherence to technology:
the surface is treated with the selected preparation using a roller or brush in one direction;- after the time indicated on the product packaging, the paint is removed along with the applied composition using any convenient tool (spatula, scraper, brush).
Sometimes you have to resort to re-rinsing. Walls painted in several layers may not be cleanable the first time.
After completion of the work, the removed paint and chemical composition should be disposed of. Do not allow the mixture to enter the domestic sewer or the ground.
The big disadvantage of using the chemical method is:
- danger of poisoning from volatile substances,
- get a burn to the mucous membrane or skin.
When working with special removers for oil-based paint, you must wear safety glasses and gloves. Chemical compounds should only be used in areas with good ventilation. The smell from the drugs may not dissipate for a long time, so you should not stay in the room being repaired for a long time..
Another significant disadvantage of the chemical method of removing oil composition is the high price of the drug that is applied to the surface. Especially if large areas need to be treated.
Features of removing old paint
In order for the process of removing old composition to be easy, it is necessary to choose the right cleaning methods. With a competent approach to work, the paint will come off the walls quickly, and the surface will not be damaged. You should always consider the type of surface on which the paint is applied.
The choice of cleaning method depends on the presence of a layer of plaster under the composition. If it is not the wall itself that is painted, but the bonding layer, then the removal process will be much faster. If there is plaster on the wall, then a mechanical method of removing paint from the surface is best. Before starting new wall decoration, they should be leveled.
Common mistakes during the cleaning process
If you take the wrong approach to removing oil paint from walls, you can harm your own health and also damage the surface being cleaned.
Under no circumstances should open sources of fire be used in the thermal method. dismantling paint.
When using a chemical remover, the room must be well ventilated or ventilated. Incorrectly selected paint scraping tools can damage the surface being treated.
Do not neglect protective equipment while performing work:
- glasses,
- gloves,
- respirators.
If all safety rules are followed, the possibility of harming your health is eliminated.
Useful tips
When using the thermal method, heating the wall from the bottom up will be most effective. A well-heated strip can be easily removed with a spatula. The composition will melt under the influence of high temperatures, so you should use a napkin to clean the spatula.
Video on the topic
Video review of the main methods of removing oil paint from walls:
Conclusion
Chemical and thermal methods for removing old oil composition from walls are less labor-intensive, do not damage the surface being cleaned, which allows you to subsequently save on putties and other mixtures.
However, such methods are the most dangerous for human health. That's why Before starting work, you should carefully consider which method will be most appropriate.
