How to Remove Paint From Drywall With 40-Grit Sandpaper
Removing paint from drywall can be difficult depending upon how many layers of paint have been applied to your walls. Take some precautions before you begin. Sanding is one of most practical ways to remove paint from drywall, but it is important to use the right grit and the right technique so that you do not further damage the drywall. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Dropcloths
- 40-grit sandpaper
- Orbital sander
- Mask
- Safety glasses
- Ear plugs
Instructions
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Test your walls to make sure there is no lead paint, specifically if your house was built before 1978. Lead can cause very serious side effects and lead to a number of diseases. It's important to test your walls by hiring a professional or purchasing a home kit at your local hardware store. If your walls test positive for lead, hire a professional to give you information on what your next steps should be.
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Remove as many items from the room as you can and cover all appliances, furniture and your floor with dropcloths. There will be a significant amount of dust no matter what type of sander you use. Tape off open doorways using plastic tarp or dropcloths to eliminate excessive dust in the rest of your house.
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Purchase or rent an orbital sander to make the job easier and more efficient. Get a sander that has a dust-bagging system to reduce the amount of dust. Sanding manually with traditional sandpaper will take a lot more time and put more strain on your body.
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Put on a mask to prevent inhaling dust particles into your lungs. Also wear safety glasses and earplugs. Safety is very important when sanding. Ear plugs will reduce the amount of noise from the orbital sander.
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Sand your walls section by section. Use the orbital sander with 40-grit sandpaper. Use slow, orbiting motions to reduce the chances of scratching up the wall with the sides of the sander.
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Vacuum all the dust from the room and wipe down the walls with a dry rag. Do not use any chemicals or water solutions as this may damage the drywall.
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Tips & Warnings
Try not to press down on the orbital sander when sanding your walls as this will lessen the productivity of the sander.
Take frequent breaks and get some fresh air. Don't spend hours in the same room with high amounts of dust and allow the orbital sander to cool down. Too much use for an extended period could burn out the sander.
Realize that you may need to go over certain areas multiple times to remove all the paint. Change the 40-grit sandpaper once it loses its roughness or starts to tear.
Scraping paint from drywall can cause damage by removing pieces of the drywall and creating gouges, which you will then need to fill.
