The paint on your deck is looking a little faded. You’d like to add on a new coat of paint or strip the paint and stain it. The problem is that you don’t know how to strip paint or if it’s even necessary to do so.
Unless the paint is in seriously bad shape, you might be able to skip over this step. We can let you know for sure.
Check out this guide to learn if you need to strip the paint on your deck along with a few pointers that will teach you how to get the job done.
Do You Have to Strip Old Paint?
The answer here is no. You don’t have to strip away all the old paint. You only have to worry about the areas that are peeling or curling up.
Run your hands over the old paint job and check for pockets of air as well. You might not be able to see these with the naked eye, but you’ll be able to feel them. If you find any, the paint in these areas must be removed.
If you don’t strip all the failed paint, the new paint will have problems as well. So, make sure that you are thorough in your search.
How to Strip Paint
Now that you know what paint you need to get rid of, it’s time to grab your tools and get started. It’s not too hard to strip paint, but if you’re worried about ruining your walls, it might be best for you to stop here and call a professional. If you feel confident that you can handle it, let’s learn how to strip paint off wood.
What You’ll Need
To get started with the job, you’re going to need, some type of paint stripper, a metal putty knife, steel wool, rags, mineral spirits, gloves, protective eyewear, and an apron.
As far as paint strippers go, you’ve got a few choices. You could use a heater, chemicals, or a sander. The heater uses extreme temperatures to soften the paint and make it easy to scrape away.
The problem with using the heater is that you have to be super careful. If the temperature you use is too low, you won’t get anywhere. If the temperature is too high, you could char the wood or even set your home on fire.
Chemical strippers are a liquid that you pour onto the area. It eats away at the paint so you can remove it. It’s great for getting into awkward crevices, but it smells bad and is a bit messy.
The sander will grind away the paint. It works well for exterior surfaces, but as you can imagine, it creates a huge mess. So, you might not want to use it inside your home.
Apply the Paint Stripper to the Area
Before you can apply your paint stripper of choice, you need to prepare. Put on your safety goggles, apron, and gloves. You need to wear closed-toed shoes and make sure that you’re wearing an old pair of pants.
Don’t wear shorts. You want to cover up as much of your skin as possible. Once you’re all geared up, you can apply the paint stripper.
If you’re using the chemical stripper, try to use a healthy coating. If you spread it too thin, you won’t get the results that you’re looking for.
If you’re using the heating option, you have to constantly move the heater around. Failing to do so may cause a fire. Even if you have the heater set to the lowest heat setting.
Wait
Now it’s time to play the waiting game. The other problem with using a chemical paint stripper is that it can take a while before the paint starts to bubble up enough for you to remove it.
You can’t wait too long to start scrapping, though. If you do, the paint stripper will dry and will be a pain to remove.
Scrape with a Putty Knife
Take your metal putty knife and carefully begin to remove the paint. It’s important to note that you need to have a metal knife. If you use a plastic one, the chemical paint stripper might melt it.
Don’t scrub at the wood. If you’re too rough with it, you may scrape up more than paint. Only remove the layer of paint that comes off easily.
Repeat if Needed
You might not be able to get all the paint off during your first try. You may have to repeat this process again three and four times. It’s nothing to worry about.
You won’t ruin the wood with the paint stripper. That is unless you’re using the heat method. Again, if you fail to use the heater the correct way you might char the wood.
Clean the Area
Now that all the paint has been removed, clean the wood with mineral spirits. If the instructions on the paint stripper tell you to clean it away with water, that works too. Listen to the instructions.
If you have any stubborn spots that can’t be wiped clean with a cloth, you may have to go in with a chunk of steel wool that’s been dunked in mineral spirits.
Get Rid of Old Paint
That’s all there is to it, a quick guide on how to strip paint from wood. However, it might not be a job that’s necessary for you to do unless you’re dealing with bubbling, peeling paint.
If you are dealing with failing paint, you’ll have to follow these instructions to get rid of it. Failure to do so will spell doom for your new paint job.
If after reading these instructions you’re feeling uncomfortable with doing the job yourself, we can help. Contact us to tell us about your project and get a price estimate on our services.