Whether they were finished in paint or in stain, trim must be properly prepared.
It can also require the removal of old paint or varnish to provide a fresh surface for the finish.
Be sure to wear protective glasses when stripping and a dust mask when sanding.
Chemical strippers can contain toxic fumes, so ventilate the room adequately before applying any solution.
Rubber gloves are also a must to keep the chemicals from burning your hands.
In 1978, legislation banned its use, but your house may still contain lead paint.
Wear a respirator as you work.
you could apply chemical paint strippers to soften the paint.
If you dry-scrape the paint, mist the surface with a spray bottle to reduce hazardous dust.
Clean up dust and particles with a wet mopvacuuming it just spreads lead dust.
Sanding, sandblasting, and similar methods aren’t recommended because of the dust hazard.
And softening paint with a heat gun could create toxic fumes.
Encapsulation:Instead of removing the paint, isolate it or seal it off.
Apply new drywall over an existing wall or float the wall with wallboard compound.
Surface replacement:Remove and replace woodwork and moldings that have been painted with lead paint.
Scuff-sand all glossy surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper.
Use a sanding block orpalm sanderon flat surfaces, or a contour sander on curved surfaces.
Pull these particles off the surface with a soft cloth dampened in mineral spirits or water.
Don’t use a tack cloth; it can leave a residue that will interfere with the paint bond.
Set the point of the nail set in the recess of the nailhead and tap sharply with a hammer.
Sand it smooth when dry.
Also your finger can dip into the hole, creating a slight depression.
As a solution, use an ordinary kitchen spatula.
It’s firm enough to wipe away excess putty and leave a smooth surface.
It also conforms to curved surfaces, speeding your work.
Rinse thoroughly with avinegar/water solutionand let the trim dry.
Use a stiff putty knife to scrape away loose paint to the bare wood.
Overfill the area slightly to accommodate its tendency to shrink.
Let the filler dry.
Step 3: Sand Smooth
Sand the repaired area smooth with 150-grit sandpaper.
Scuff-sand the entire surface with 150-grit sandpaper.
Apply stainable wood patching in a color that closely matches the surface.
Level the patch and sand it smooth when dry.
Step 3: Restain Patch
Restain the patched area to match the finished surface.
Apply the finish coat.
Brush in only one direction to avoid lifting the stripper off the surface.
Step 2: Repeat Process
Reapply the stripperwherever paint is still adhered, then repeat the process.
Finally, clean the surface with a fine abrasive pad dipped in denatured alcohol.
When the paint bubbles, back the gun away from the surface slightly and scrape the paint.
Use flexible sanding blocks or sanding sponges to smooth these curved surfaces.
