TOP 5 ways to remove old paint from a wooden floor in an apartment

In the process of renovating the premises, it is often necessary to renew the layer of paint on the floor. When preparing the surface, you need to figure out how to properly remove the old paint from the parquet before applying the new material. To reduce labor costs, it is recommended to first study the nuances of this work.

Why remove old paint before painting

Wooden bases often have defects due to high humidity in the room, constant exposure to ultraviolet rays and other third-party factors. As a result of long-term use, cracks appear on the surface, and if the coating is not removed before laying a new layer, they will also appear on a new base. Sometimes it is possible to apply the material to the previous coating, but in such a situation there is a possibility of the formation of too dense a layer, which will interfere with the comfortable opening and closing of doors.

Basic Withdrawal Methods

There are several ways to clean wood floors. Each of the options has its own characteristics, which must be dealt with before performing the work.

Chemical

Various chemicals are used to remove old coatings, including alkalis, solvents and acids. The method considered for treating a wooden floor is simple, but it is important to take into account that, if used incorrectly, chemicals can be dangerous for humans. The chemical stripping of the paint is as follows:

1. First, the type of paint available is determined and the appropriate solvent is selected.
2. Apply the chemical to the surface and leave for 25-30 minutes.
3. After waiting for the chemical to corrode the layer of paint and varnish, remove unnecessary residues and clean the surface.
4. If the coating has not been partially removed, the procedure is repeated. Small areas that remain after chemical treatment are washed off with warm water.

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The chemical method is the best for removing acrylic coatings. But if the base is old, even the correctly selected solvent may not work the first time. It is important to take into account that the same substance is not suitable for all types of paint and varnish coatings, and the use of an agent chosen illiterately can lead to the destruction of a parquet.

Thermal

The thermal method consists of heating the material to soften it and then removing it with a spatula. You can heat the floor paint with a burner, hair dryer or blowtorch. The heating instructions are as follows:

1. The floor is heated by holding the tool so that all the air is directed towards the floor.
2. When the paint acquires a soft consistency, without stopping the heating, clean the material with a spatula, following the air flow.

This method is not particularly complicated, but it has several drawbacks.These include:

• increased risk when working with very hot tools;
• the release of dangerous toxins from the paint when heated;
• the need for prolonged exposure to heat in the presence of a thick layer of material.

The main advantage of heat treatment is the ability to immediately coat the cleaned substrate. Heating does not require additional drying of the parquet. This significantly reduces the time spent on repair work.

Mechanical

Having resorted to the mechanical method, you will need to use a power tool or devices for manual processing. The nuances of removing the coating directly depend on the type of tool selected.

Hand tools

A wide variety of tools can be used for manual paint stripping. Including, suitable for work:

1. Hammer. It is most often used to remove oil paint and is optimal for preparing the laying of tiles on a wooden floor.
2. Putty knife. The presence of a thin pointed edge allows you to easily clean the surface from cracked varnish and paint.
3. Metal brush. Rigid metal elements effectively remove peeling paint from hard surfaces.
4. Chisel. This tool is used when other tools do not give the desired result. Using a chisel, you can remove the thin top layer of parquet.

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Hand tools simplify repair work when a small area of ​​the floor needs to be cleaned. This method is universal, accessible to everyone and suitable for removing all types of paint and varnish. The only downside is the labor input.

Power tools

From a power tool, a sander is suitable for removing a layer of paint from a wooden base.To remove old material, you need to use a special attachment with a wire brush. Stripping routers are also allowed, but they are only effective on certain types of painted wood surfaces.

There is also a method of electromechanical cleaning of the coating, which involves abrasive treatment.

The essence of the method is the action of a jet of air or liquid containing elements of an abrasive powder on the old coating using a gun. Before using this method, you do not need to rinse the surface, because the spray gun and the coat of paint will remove all the accumulated dirt.

Precautionary measures

Whichever method you choose to deal with the old coating, you need to follow basic safety rules that will allow you to avoid a number of negative consequences. The basic precautions are as follows:

1. When using chemical agents at work, skin and respiratory protection must be ensured. For this, wear a mask and rubberized gloves. In addition, before processing, the instructions for the chemical composition should be studied.
2. When using a power tool, there is a risk of driving nails into the parquet. For this reason, all protruding parts should be removed before starting repairs.
3. There is a high risk of burns during surface heat treatment. When heating a coat of paint, you should use heat-resistant gloves and ventilate the room to remove toxic substances.
4. During manual mechanical removal of the coating, care must be taken to protect against accidental cuts.

Features of work with different types

Each type of paint has individual characteristics.To do the job efficiently, it is better to familiarize yourself with the available shades in advance.

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water-based

Water-based types of materials are destroyed by exposure to liquid, so they are easy to clean by moistening them with water beforehand. All treated areas are carefully wiped with a sponge or cloth, left for a while , after which the unnecessary layer is mechanically removed.

Acrylic

It is possible to soften a fresh acrylic coat with warm water or an alcohol solution. If the parquet was painted a long time ago, then it will be possible to remove the acrylic coating using a mechanical method. Heating the acrylic for cracking and subsequent cleaning will also be effective.

Oil

Oil paint is considered the most difficult to remove, since it is fixed as firmly as possible on a wooden base. In addition, the oil coating is often applied in several layers, which creates additional problems.

To completely get rid of the old coating, it is recommended to use a combined method, combining thermal and mechanical treatment.

Additional tips and tricks

It is also recommended to take into account additional tips when carrying out work on updating the paint on the parquet in the apartment. Choosing the best cleaning method depends on a combination of factors, including the thickness of the coating, the type of paint, the current condition of the surface and the allocated repair budget.

In situations where no method has helped remove the paint, you will need to completely replace the wood. This is due to the fact that the paint has soaked into the surface and it will no longer be possible to remove it.Such a process will interfere with the adhesion of the new layer to the floor, so it is easier to perform a complex installation.