Valuable recommendations on how to remove old paint from walls

foto6989-1 High-quality wall finishing is impossible without carefully carried out preparatory work, one of the points of which is the removal of old decorative materials.

And if there are no special problems with wallpaper or panels, then quickly removing old paint can be a labor-intensive undertaking.

How to remove old paint from walls? By carefully studying all possible ways to remove old paint from a wall, you can solve the problem of quickly and efficiently preparing the surface for subsequent finishing.

Content

How to quickly remove?
How to choose the right method?
Features of removal depending on the type of paint coating
What mistakes are most often made and why is it better not to make them?
Adviсe
Useful video
Conclusion

How to quickly remove?

There are several ways you can remove paint from wall, each of which differs in the complexity of execution, the necessary tools, and the presence of certain knowledge and skills.

Mechanical methods

foto6989-2 The mechanical cleaning method involves the use of the following tools:

painting knife;
putty knife;
chisels;
scraper;
axe.

Algorithm of actions:

Prepare the tool. It is necessary to check that the blade is well sharpened and tightly fixed to the handle.
Place the tool at an acute angle to the wall, and make many cuts with short strokes (the more, the better).
Moisten the wall generously with water from a spray bottle.
Scrape or knock down the swollen layer of paint.

Work with hand tools is carried out only in protective glasses, gloves and thick clothing. Otherwise, there is a high risk of injury from flying pieces of old decorative coating.

Heat treatment

The simplest, fastest and most effective way to clean a wall is to heat the decorative coating with a hairdryer. Everything is very simple: the paint on the wall is burned with a stream of hot air from a hair dryer, and then very quickly removed with a spatula or scraper.

In order for the cleaning process to go faster, it is carried out simultaneously by two people (one burns, the second immediately removes the paint).

Limitations of using the thermal method:

it is problematic to use the burner in apartment buildings;
It is unacceptable to burn the wall without using personal protective equipment (during the burning process, the paint releases elements hazardous to health);
absolutely not suitable for removing decorative coatings from metal and plastic surfaces;
It is prohibited to use the thermal method in rooms without ventilation.

In cases where it is not possible to use a construction hair dryer, it can be easily replaced:

blowtorch (it is important to follow fire safety rules);
iron and foil (cover the painted surface with foil and then heat it with an iron);
household hair dryer (inferior to a construction hair dryer only in terms of service life).

Electromechanical

You can remove paint from a concrete wall as quickly as possible using an electromechanical method. Simply put, a variety of power tools are used to clean walls:

Grinder with wide grinding wheel (it is recommended to use a wheel with an abrasiveness of at least 40). You can also use a grinder with a special attachment in the form of a steel wire brush.
Drill with paint remover attachment. The nozzle is a structure of three chains, each of which has thirteen links. During operation, the chains break the decorative coating (flying off in pieces) with a minimum amount of dust.
Drill with hole saw. The process of cleaning a wall with such a power tool is quick, with minimal risks of injury and dust formation. The only thing that needs to be taken into account is the high cost of the nozzle and the need for its frequent replacement.

Work using power tools is very rarely used on wooden surfaces (active rough cleaning disrupts the structure of the wood).

Use of chemicals

The chemical method of removing paint from a wall involves the use of special liquid or gel removers and solvents:

White Spirit,
acetone.

Work with chemicals is carried out only in a very well-ventilated area and using personal protective equipment (gloves, respirator, goggles).

Basic rules for applying chemical solvents on a painted wall:

liquid compositions are applied using a spray gun, gel solvents - with rollers or brushes;
before cleaning the wall, you must wait a certain period of time (indicated by the manufacturer on the label);
remove the softened paint using a spatula or iron brush;
The wall cleaned with chemical reagents is additionally treated with an acidified solution (water with the addition of citric acid or vinegar).

If signs of illness (dizziness, nausea) appear during the use of chemicals, work must be stopped immediately and the premises must be left.

How to choose the right method?

Several criteria are considered for choosing methods for removing paint from a wall: the type of decorative coating, the required amount of time and money spent, and the most important thing - the type of surface being treated.

Cleaning from concrete or stone surfaces

Poorly adhered decorative wall covering easy to clean using a mechanical method (in other words, using a scraper or spatula).

If decorative layer on a concrete wall holds firmly, a chemical method followed by electromechanical cleaning will help to remove it.

How to remove from wooden coverings?

foto6989-5 A spatula will help remove fragile layers of paint from a wooden wall. Work must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the structure of the tree.

If the wood is covered with a durable, perfectly smooth layer, only a chemical method can clean it. When using a torch or hair dryer, it is important to monitor the flow of hot air so as not to burn the wood.

It is better not to use the electromechanical method for cleaning wood. This is because the structure of the wood is soft and uneven, and the use of brute mechanical force of the tool is fraught with the appearance of scratches, cracks, and chips that will have to be puttied. An exception would be to use fine-grained sandpaper.

From metal surfaces

Simple, fast, high quality A grinder will help you clean a metal surface. (electromechanical method) or solvent (chemical method). The use of chemicals is preferable for removing old, stubborn paint.

Cleaning with hot air (thermal method) for metal surfaces requires certain skills. Mistakes made when removing old paint can cause layers that swell when heated to stick to the metal surface.

Features of removal depending on the type of paint coating

The different composition of paints applied to the wall requires a special approach to the removal process.

Water-based compositions

foto6989-6 Remove water-based paint it's easiest to do it from a concrete wall. It is enough to moisten the surface generously, wait until the decorative layer softens and remove it with a spatula.

An applied layer of varnish can add complexity to the process. It must first be treated with chemical solutions, and then cleaned off with a spatula.

It is not recommended to use a mechanical method of cleaning the wall from water-based paint, since the plaster can be very easily damaged through a thin decorative layer.

Oily

Most often, craftsmen face exactly the problem removing old oil paint from a wall. Depending on the number of layers applied and the time elapsed since the date of repair, choose:

mechanical,
chemical,
thermal method.

Acrylic

The choice of cleaning method is determined by how long ago the decorative layer was applied. If you need to clean a freshly painted (in the first day after application) wall, then just moisten the paint with water and wipe with a sponge.

If more than seven days have passed since painting the wall, the paint is removed with a solvent or using a mechanical method. For a wall that has been painted for more than a year, we apply the method of chemical and electromechanical cleaning.

Acrylic paint can be easily scraped off wood surfaces with a sharp knife or spatula.Glass or plastic wall partitions painted with acrylic paints can be easily cleaned with a hot soapy solution.

What mistakes are most often made and why is it better not to make them?

The process of removing old paint from a wall is labor-intensive and requires certain knowledge and skills.

Lack of necessary experience can lead to the following errors:

Incorrect selection of tools and method of paint removal. Most often, a manual mechanical method is used to remove old paint from a wall.
This is not entirely the right decision. You can spend a lot of time cleaning the decorative layer with sharp spatulas or knives and still not achieve the desired result.
Ignoring the rules for using personal protective equipment. When working with chemical solutions or power tools, it is important to remember that personal safety comes first. The absence of a respirator, safety glasses, and gloves can lead to injuries to the respiratory system, eyes, and hands.
Cleaning walls using open flame sources. This interpretation of the thermal method of cleaning walls is dangerous due to fires.

Adviсe

Practical recommendations from professional masters will help remove paint from the wall quickly, with minimal time and money:

You can save your repair budget if you use rented power tools (there are a sufficient number of companies providing a similar service).
When heating the paint on the wall, you need to create a draft in the room (open windows and doors). Otherwise, toxic fumes entering the air can cause poisoning of the body.
Melted paint must be cleaned off immediately with a spatula. Otherwise, it will be baked on the surface of the wall, and it will be very difficult to remove it.
When removing old paint from a concrete wall using a chemical method, it is best to use acid-free compounds.

Useful video

How to remove old paint from walls - video tips:

Conclusion

Having studied the theory in detail and using in practice all possible options for removing paint from the wall, you can quickly and efficiently carry out preparatory measures before the next decorative finish.