How to Safely Strip Paint from Woodwork

Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique travels to Sacramento to show a homeowner the safe way to strip paint. Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Time: 12 hours Cost: $100 Skill Level: Beginner Tools List for Stripping Paint from Woodwork: Utility knife Plastic putty knife Shopping List: Drop cloth Lead test kit Zero VOC paint stripper Laminated paper Mask Gloves Cheap throwaway brush Scrub pad Steps: 1. Before doing any work, test the surface being stripped with a lead test kit. Follow the instructions that come with the packaging to confirm that there is no lead present. 2. Starting from the top of the surface being stripped, apply a thick layer of the paint stripper using the paint brush. 3. Cover each section with laminated paper to accelerate the curing time of the paint stripper. Cut off any excess paper with the utility knife. Allow each section to slightly overlap with previous sections to ensure full coverage. 4. Wait for the laminated paper to turn brown. It should take somewhere between 20-40 minutes. 5. Once the paper has turned brown, take the plastic putty knife and drag it underneath the laminated paper. Most of the paint should come off with it. 6. Gently scrape the plastic putty knife across the surface to get any extra paint left behind. 7. Soak the scrub pad in some warm water and scrub the surface to remove any leftover residue. Resources: Paint stripping is a project that can be detrimental to a person’s health. For that reason, Mauro strongly advises that homeowners take a number of steps to protect themselves from toxins. If there is a chance that any of the paint being stripped was applied before 1978, it needs to be tested for lead. Lead tests can be bought at most paint supply stores and home centers. Mauro used the LeadCheck Swabs test kit, manufactured by 3M (https://ift.tt/2hzohzA). When choosing a paint stripper, check the label closely and choose one that reads “Zero VOC.” “Low VOC” paint strippers can be misleading, since there are few regulations determining the concentration of VOCs that can be considered “low”. Mauro used Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover and laminated paper, both manufactured by Dumond (https://ift.tt/2KviWSO). The other materials required for paint stripping, including the plastic putty knife, drop cloths, disposable paint brush, mask and gloves, can all be found at home centers and paint supply stores. Expert assistance with this segment was provided by Mauro’s Painting (https://ift.tt/2rLicC3). Ask This Old House TV Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.   This Old House releases new segments every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.   Keywords: This Old House, How-to, home improvement, DIY, painting, stripping, mauro henrique, ask this old house, interior, trim, woodwork Watch the full episode: https://ift.tt/2IiXdwT Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: https://ift.tt/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: https://ift.tt/1psm4fE G+: https://ift.tt/1CtsNjJ Instagram: https://ift.tt/1psm1QZ Tumblr: https://ift.tt/1CtsLbH