Removing paint from walls

[Susiequ]

I do not like tiling over paint even if it is well sanded. I prefer to remove it. I have found that using a steamer softens the paint so it can be scraped off quite easily. BUT you must NOT hold the steamer over the paint for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and just do a small area at a time. If you over steam you risk cracking the plaster! I have just had to do two bathrooms this way, fortunately, they were not being fully tiled.

 

[White Room]

Until you get vinyl silk....

 

[Susiequ]

One of the bathrooms had been painted with bathroom paint - quite plastic like. It still worked on this, revealing ordinary emulsion underneath which came off very easily. Another tip - use a Stanley blade window scraper not a wallpaper stripper scraper, the fine sharp blade works a treat!

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

Would you use the same method on plasterboard not skimmed?

 

[On one]

I do not like tiling over paint even if it is well sanded. I prefer to remove it. I have found that using a steamer softens the paint so it can be scraped off quite easily. BUT you must NOT hold the steamer over the paint for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and just do a small area at a time. If you over steam you risk cracking the plaster! I have just had to do two bathrooms this way, fortunately, they were not being fully tiled.

Works for me!.....don't try and scrape the paint as soon as you remove the steamer though....I follow behind about 10 secs later with the scraper this allows the paint to cool down and scrape off easier.

 

[David - Tradetiler]

With regard to sanding. If you've never tried a random orbit sander verses a normal orbital sander you will be amazed at the difference. Much faster removal and very little sandpaper clogging. I have a DeWalt 125mm random orbit sander and it had been a real work horse, coupled with a vacuum it creates zero dust and leaves walls totally clean

 

[David - Tradetiler]

[video=youtube_share;3a8EDrhtrtE]http://youtu.be/3a8EDrhtrtE[/video]

 

[Susiequ]

No, I don't think I would, the board could get too damp and using a Stanley blade could dig into the board and ruin the paper surface.