How to Scrape Paint Off an Interior Wall
Painting a room is the easiest way to give any space a new look. However, unless it's properly prepared, the paint on a wall may chip, flake and crack. Before beginning to paint, make sure the area you are going to paint is free from dirt, grease and paint chips or cracks. Scraping loose paint off of a wall is easy, although it can be time consuming. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Lay a tarp on the floor in front of the wall you are about to scrape. If you are scraping a ceiling, lay the tarp directly under the area you will be working on. This will help with cleanup later, as thin, brittle paint chips are difficult to pick up with a vacuum, or by hand.
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Wipe the wall down with a soft cloth to remove any pieces of loose paint and dirt.
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Place the blade of a scraper against the wall. Using a light pressure, push the blade up the wall and under any loose or cracked paint. The blade should slide under the paint and cut through any loose chips, causing them to fall from the wall. Run the blade over the cracked area in all directions.
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Wash the wall. Once your scraping is finished, fill a bucket with warm water and the appropriate amount of wall-washing compound. Use a soft cloth to wipe the wall down so that all dirt, dust, grease and loose paint chips are removed. Dry the wall with another soft cloth.
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Tips & Warnings
After you have scraped your wall free of loose paint, consider spackling any rough areas to make them smooth and seal the scraped area. If you are covering glossy paint, wipe the glossy area with "gloss remover" to help the new paint stick.
If removing paint in an old house, be sure to wear the appropriate face coverings to prevent paint dust from being inhaled. If using chemicals, be sure the area is properly vented.
