Sometimes people don’t realize the necessity of stripping furniture effectively before applying new paint. A fresh coat of paint won’t actually cover old paint evenly, so make the stripping process your first step of the project.
Apply Stripper
It’s important to completely strip away any stains or old paint from wood furniture before applying a new finish. You should use a liquid or a paste stripper for the job: liquid removes thin finishes and small parts that can be dipped, while paste strips thick layers of finish. To prepare for this, place newspapers and a canvas drop cloth under your piece of furniture to protect the floor. Then, brush on the stripper from the top down. Make sure you don’t re-brush the stripper to even it out—just leave it alone.
Scrape the Finish Off
After the stripper has set, scrape off the old finish with a wide-bladed putty knife. If you slightly round the corners of a metal knife with a file, it will prevent gouging the wood. As an alternative, you can try a plastic putty knife, which is effective and inexpensive.
Steel Wool
If you have any irregular features, like turned legs or carved moldings, use steel wool over them. You can begin with a coarse grade of steel wool (00 or “double aught”) to remove most of the material and then go back over it with very fine steel wool (000 or 0000 “aught”).
Wire Brush
Next, use an old toothbrush or wire brush on carved or rounded surfaces. Don’t forget that legs, bedposts, and stylized carvings will need extra attention due to their recessed details. Once the surrounding areas have been stripped, you may brush fresh stripper into the recessed areas to let it work. Remove the old finish and stripper with a soft brass wire brush or toothbrush.
Wash Off Residue
Keep in mind that if you don’t remove all of the stripper, the new finish won’t adhere well. Be certain to wash down the piece with paint thinner (or mineral spirits) and a rag. Once the piece is clean, you might find areas where some of the old finish has remained intact. Reapply the stripper to that area, remove it after the allotted time, and then rinse it again with the thinner.
Pro Painters, your Houston painting contractor, may not strip furniture, but we are happy to strip paint from your walls as a side project to your furniture renewal. We also perform other Houston interior painting services, such as staining cabinets if you need a pick-me-up in your kitchen. Reach out to us today for your other remodeling needs!
