Hi All - We just bought a 1922 farmhouse in the A&C style and all of the interior wood has been painted over. Some of the casing/trim cannot be restored and I plan to replace it myself. In other cases, I am going to strip the paint and I am wondering if anyone can suggest an effective means for doing so.

I am assuming that some of the paint contains lead. Consequently, I hope to avoid the use of my belt sander if at possible to minimize toxic dust. What has worked well for those of you that have tackled similar projects?

Also, I want to restore the natural wood finish on the moldings within the staircase. The baseboard-like trim that follows the contours of the stairs from top to bottom that resembles an upside down stringer (don't know how else to describe this molding)is painted over. Is that piece typically just trim and can it be removed and replaced if necessary, or is that piece somehow connected to the stringer that supports the stairs? I don't know much about stair construction and am not sure if it is purely cosmetic or structural.

Thanks very much for your help.

Hi Phil

My whole 1st floor woodwork, doors, window trim, you name it was painted over numerous times. Seems each coat was sloppier than the last with hairs, lumps, etc.

This was 9 years ago. I used Peel Away as it is invironmentally safe and user friendly except for the clean up - sloppy job. You could also use the soy gel. These 2 strippers are thick like pudding. The Peel Away has a special paper to cover it with. In X amount of hours the paint is absorbed and then wiped off to review the natural wood. You may use their neutralizer or vinegar to give it a final rinse.

Any cracks or nail holes can be filled in w/Bondo and paint chips can be picked out of hard to strip corners/cracks. If you use a gel stain, it will cover paint specks and the Bondo. I sanded over the rough areas and restained and polyed it.

Do a google for them and the websites have examples and where to buy. I got the Peel Away at a local Home Depot and mailed away for the Soy Gel, but I found another such gel at Home Depot the other day because I discovered it softens the putty on window sashes I'm restoring - the last on the 1st floor, yea!

Hi Edee - Thanks for the advice. I am leaning toward using Peel Away as you suggested. Without having seen it in action, however, I remain a little skeptical of its effectiveness to efficiently remove paint. Did most come off with a single application or did you have to re-apply multiple times to remove the paint?

we have just purchased a 1924 bungalow and are facing the same problems. only in our case, they painted the brick fireplace as well.

i have looked at peel away. i was shocked at the price of $100/gal. we will probably try the soy gel at first.

we have only minimal paint, may two layers and latex at that. the wood was original until several years ago!!!!!

let us know how you project progresses.

Hi Don - The brick fireplace was about the only thing in our house that was spared from the white paint that covers the entire house. White window treatments over white windows framed by white casing upon white walls. Even the hand-rail in the oak staircase is painted white. I would love to restore the original in every case, but not sure how long my patience will last and may resort to ripping out and replacing in some cases. Will try to post some pictures after we close on the house in late August.

Anyone else have any direct experience with Peel-Away, Soy Gel, or related product?

Phil

It does come off in one appplication! A few areas I had to reapply but for the most part, the paint was liquified when absorbed by the Peel Away. What ever paint remained, easily scraped right off when I left them to dry.

I got it for $85 a bucket (large white industrial sized bucket). I bought mine in 1999 so inflation has not been much - It lasts, just butter it on and cover with the paper. Test a corner, some areas need longer than others to get through all the layers, some overnight and some a few hours. You do need to where gloves when you clean it off, it stings. It was reliatively new to the market when I bought it and I used Peel Away 1 - in some areas the damp wood got thready, but I sanded and restained all of it anyway. Different strenghes are available.

I would use it again if I had anything to strip again.. A store owner up on Main Street used it to strip the paint outside on his brick building that had been painted white.

It works. They have smaller containers if you want to try it before buying the larger bucket.

Phil - Oh yes, I stripped the whole stairway railing and balisters with it too. I did have to pick out some areas on that with the point of a steak knife.

I've noted since that many old homes of the past left the hand railing stained and painted the balisters.

Thanks, Edee - Will give it a shot later this summer after closing on the house and report back with results.

we are supposed to close on our house on friday. first job is stripping wall paper, probably the fireplace next, carpet, then begin the arduous task of stripping wood.

i posted a few pictures under A&C architecture to give you an idea.

lots of project for my retirement.....