How to remove old paint from walls - proven methods

Knowing a few tricks on how to remove old paint from walls, you can clean the surface with minimal effort and time.There are 3 ways to remove the coating. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Combination of paint and base

The first thing to do is assess the scale of the work. It may not be necessary to remove old material from the surface of the walls. If the coating is even, smooth, without defects - places of swelling, peeling and cracking, then apply a new layer of paint on top of the old one.

Removing old paint from walls with a spatula

In addition, the finishing must match the appearance and composition of the base. Oil-based paint should be placed on top of oil-based paint, and water-based paint should be placed on top of water-based paint. If the old decor is oil, and the new one is epoxy or acrylic, there will not be the necessary adhesion of the surfaces to each other. The composition will not lie on the walls and will not be evenly distributed.

Those who want to remove old paint from walls are advised to think about the feasibility of such work if the walls are very uneven. It may be much more economical and better to level them with drywall. Then there is no need to remove old material from the walls.

This stage of repair work is skipped when it is planned to attach plastic or other wall cladding or lining. Before dismantling old material from the walls, make sure that the chosen method can be used on the surface. Cover with paint:

• wood;
• plaster;
• cement base;
• metal;
• stone, etc.

For each of these surfaces, one or more methods of removing paint will be suitable, while others will be useless or will damage the coating so that it will then have to be restored.

Experts advise carrying out testing, removing the material in a small and inconspicuous area, evaluating the result, and only then applying the product to the entire surface of the walls.

Which paint removal method is best to choose?

Three methods have become widespread that allow you to remove old material from walls:

1. Mechanical.
2. Chemical.
3. Thermal.

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages that are taken into account when choosing. The first is the simplest, but at the same time more labor-intensive. The more layers of paint there are on a surface, the harder it is to remove them. For this purpose, various power-driven tools are used to make the task faster and easier. This will require a lot of work and time from a person.

The chemical method involves the use of special compounds with a dissolving effect. They corrode the old coating, allowing it to be removed from the wall surface faster and easier. It can be applied to different types of paints.

Chemical method of removing paint

The disadvantage of such dismantling is that it requires the use of special protective equipment and a mask. There is a danger of poisoning from caustic fumes, so it is necessary to work in a well-ventilated room, where there are no children or pets. The method is good, but not applicable in all situations.

The thermal method is also impossible without the use of special equipment - a hair dryer. It softens the old coating, which is much easier to remove from the walls. Not everyone has such a tool and you need to be careful when working with it.

If exposed to high temperatures, the paint may catch fire. Working close to electrical cables and outlets can also have negative consequences. In addition, when heated, the old coating evaporates, releasing caustic toxins into the atmosphere. Protective equipment is required for work.

Tools and materials

To easily and quickly remove old paint from walls, use the following devices and materials:

1. Protective clothing – construction respirator or mask, plastic goggles, thick rubber or fabric gloves.
2. Scraper, chisel, knife, spatula.
3. The working mechanisms designed to remove the old coating are an electric grinder, a chemical, or a hair dryer. Additional accessories for them will be useful, for example a brush for applying caustic remover or an attachment for a drill.

Paint removal methods

When choosing a technique that will give a good result with minimal effort, experts advise taking into account:

1. Willingness to invest money. Sometimes it's easier to arm yourself with a hammer and chisel than to buy a chemical solvent.
2. Time. If it is limited, it is better to call for help with a sanding machine or solvent than to methodically remove the old coating centimeter by centimeter with a spatula.
3. Type of base. It is better to heat concrete with a hair dryer. It is not used for wooden walls.
4. Type of paint. It is often difficult to understand what kind of paint was used on walls in the past - oil, acrylic, water-based or enamel. The most difficult thing to remove is the oil composition, especially if it is applied to a concrete base.
5. Number of layers applied. Sometimes it seems that a thin layer is easier to remove than a thick one, but it happens the other way around.Thick ones are easily susceptible to mechanical stress, breaking off in whole plates under their own weight. The thin one sits firmly and requires a lot of strength to remove it.

Mechanical method

To remove the old coating from the surface of the walls, you can do it manually or using various electric tools - grinders, drills, sanders. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the type of surface, as well as whether the work is carried out in a room where people live, or whether it is empty and completely given over for renovation.

In the first case, you want to carry out the work with a minimum of dirt and dust, which means you will have to abandon electrical assistants.

Mechanical methods of paint removal

Working with an electric sander

Work as an angle grinder - This is the fastest and most risky method of dismantling old paint. All you need to do is install a special removable attachment into the device and turn on the device by pressing a button. It is advisable to work smoothly, easily, performing circular movements.

Be sure to protect your eyes with glasses, as during the process a large amount of dust appears and pieces of old paint fly around.

If you need to remove large deposits, it is recommended to use an attachment with a chain, which, when rotated, will knock out whole pieces of dried material. But it is not recommended for use on hard concrete foundations.

The grinding wheel is a universal solution that can be tried on any surface. It is used in different rooms - bathroom, living room, hall. Using a sanding machine you can efficiently, easily and quickly remove old material from walls without damaging them.

Working with an electric drill

This tool is needed when the base is concrete.The best adhesion is created between such a coating and oil paint, which is not so easy to break and remove the used material.

Of great importance is the fact who laid the coating - a professional or an amateur. Removing old paint after a specialist is much more difficult than after an amateur. If work is carried out in an apartment building, it is not recommended to use chemical solvents so that the smell does not spread throughout the entire entrance and cause harm to neighbors.

In this case, you need to use an electric drill. This is the optimal solution both in terms of speed and security. It is also recommended to work in protective equipment and shoes, a mask, a hat, and glasses.

It is better to operate the device at low frequencies in order to maximize control over the process. To remove the old coating, only touch the wall with the edge of the nozzle, without moving too quickly or too deeply.

If the paint comes off easily, you can use a metal brush. In severe cases, it is recommended to resort to an attachment, which is a chain-linked link equipped with a washer.

Working with a chisel and hammer

A chisel is the first device that everyone starts working with when trying to remove old decor from smooth walls. It is especially convenient to use it in cavities and narrow places, as well as in areas where neatness is required - in the area of ​​sockets, decorative elements, switches, cables.

This carpentry tool will help out when you need to remove old paint from wood. But it quickly becomes dull and its capabilities are not always sufficient to dismantle obsolete material, although this is one of the most economical and safest methods that does not require investment.

In areas where such a tool is already powerless, it is worth using a chisel. It does not bend under mechanical stress. By tapping the handle with a hammer, you can remove even the most difficult coating from the walls.

Ax work

This may not seem like the right tool for removing old paint, but it is very effective. The master's task is to make notches on the paint. The blows must be applied tangentially to the wall, trying not to go too deep into it. It is good if the distance between the notches does not exceed 10 mm.

As the cuts are made, it is necessary to moisten the surface with water. It should be absorbed deep into the material. After this, the paint can be easily removed with the same tool, bringing it almost parallel to the wall covering.

This ability is not convenient for everyone. Even a light ax is not easy to swing, especially when the repairs are carried out by women. In addition, a lot of notches need to be made, and the master’s hands will get tired in any case. Therefore, you need to resort to it only in special, difficult-to-reach places on the walls.

Chemical method

This method involves the use of special removers - solutions with caustic chemical components. They corrode the old coating, making its further removal much easier.

They cope well with different types of paints, regardless of the period of their application and the thickness of the layer. When applied in multiple layers, a repeat procedure may be necessary to remove old decor from the walls.

Suitable drugs:

1. Wallpaper glue. It is recommended to use it to remove water-based paint. It is necessary to soak newspapers in glue and stick them on the walls. After half an hour, the surface will swell and the paint can be easily removed from the wall.
2. HEMPEL universal remover.This is a gel-like mixture of solvents that softens various materials well - one-component varnishes, enamels, primers. The advantage of this drug is that it does not leave behind reagents that can be absorbed into the walls and subsequently cause peeling of the new decorative composition.
3. Paint remover PROFF NEOMID. Copes with paints based on oils, epoxy, acrylic, phenol formaldehyde, epoxy ester. Suitable for metal and wooden surfaces. The composition penetrates well into the walls; it is enough to apply it with a spatula or brush in a thin layer, leaving for 10-25 minutes. After this time, remove the paint with a spatula.
4. Antikras. This is a fast-acting remover for old paint, universal and economical. It includes solvents, corrosion inhibitors, thickeners and complexing agents, which together act on all types of existing paints and varnishes. Anti-paint also removes primer and putty.

Most of these drugs require special processing. You can’t just dispose of leftovers down the toilet. Don't forget about protective equipment.

Thermal method

This method involves heating the surface of the walls. As a result, the old paint begins to bubble, crack, melt, and it becomes easier to remove. What tools and mechanisms are used for these purposes:

1. Construction hairdryer. Even an amateur can handle this device. The technology is simple - the heated area of ​​paint should be immediately removed with a chisel or any other suitable scraper.
2. Blowtorch. A burner running on kerosene or gasoline is also used to remove old coating from the surface of the walls. Its flame should be brought as close to the coating as possible, and when it begins to melt, remove it from the wall.Do not allow the material to burn.
3. Iron. This is an alternative to special tools. If you can’t get a hairdryer or a lamp, you can use a regular iron to iron your clothes. It should be used to heat the surface through foil, newspaper or other paper. When the old coating softens, it is removed with a spatula. It is better to use an iron if the paint is applied in one thin layer. This device will not heat up several layers.

Removing old paint with a hair dryer and blowtorch

The thermal method is good for many, but it has one significant drawback - a small heating area. To remove the old coating, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort. In addition, not all surfaces are suitable for heating. You also need to consider the location of wires, sockets, and switches.

If overheated, the paint may ignite. This method also releases caustic fumes into the atmosphere, so it is necessary to protect your respiratory system and work in a well-ventilated area. If the old coating consists of lead, it should not be heated. The fumes from this material are so toxic that they can cause irreparable damage to health.

In general, all these methods can solve the problem and remove old paint from the surface of the walls. How did you do it? Share your tips in the comments and help those who are just starting renovations. If you liked the article, save it in bookmarks and repost it on social networks.

We also recommend watching selected videos on our topic.

Cleaning old paint. New and better method.

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Links to sources:

• https://remstroiblog.ru/karina_vajlo/2018/09/27/10-sposobov-kak-snyat-krasku-so-stenyi
• https://gidpokraske.ru/okrashivanie/pokrasochnye-raboty/kak-snyat-staruyu-krasku-so-sten.html