How to Remove Paint From a Victorian House
Victorian houses are those either designed according to the Victorian style of architecture or houses built during the Victorian era. These historic multi-level houses are generally built of wood and often feature elaborate exterior detailing and trim. Removing lead-based paint from the ornate woodwork can be accomplished with a chemical paint stripper and the right tools. The proper method will help reveal the surface of the Victorian house in preparation for new paint. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Protective eyewear
- Paint stripper
- Paint brush or roller
- Putty knife
- Peel Away 1
- Trash bag
- Garden hose
Instructions
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1
Wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear before working with the paint stripper; most are alkaline products that can cause burning when exposed to the skin.
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Test the paint stripper on a small patch of the wooden surface using a brush or paint roller to give youself an idea of how thick to apply the stripper.
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Proceed to apply the paint stripper to one manageable area of the house at a time. Refer to the waiting period indicated on the product label before removing the dissolving paint.
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Use a putty knife to carefully begin scraping the paint loose from the areas of the trim with a flat profile. To strip old paint from the narrow crevices in more detailed Victorian ornamentation, try using a chemical solvent peeler like Peel Away 1; such products are intended to remove paint with a special applicator you can use on hard-to-reach places.
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Dispose of the chipped paint in a trash bag, and rinse the house with water. Before applying a new coat of paint, allow the surface to air dry for a full 24 hours.
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