How to clean the ceiling of old paint?

The new ceiling always pleases the eye of the owners, and thanks to modern finishing materials it creates comfort and visually enlarges the room. However, all construction work associated with the ceiling is quite laborious, so you need to immediately create high-quality coating so as not to remodel it again after a couple of years. Before applying a new coating, it is necessary to solve the problem of how to clean the ceiling of old paint so that the new layer adheres to the stucco in a better quality. To keep the joy of the repair done as long as possible, use the information provided.

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How to choose a paint removal method?

Painting walls and ceilings was very common when decorating in Soviet times. And still, many of us are faced with the need to remove paint not only from the walls, but also from the ceilings.

The following factors affect the removal method:

• Type of paint.
• The surface on which it is applied.
• Tools available.
• The cash you have.
• Future plans for the reconstruction of the premises.

Important! Of course, if you decide to sew up a wall or ceiling with drywall, then you can leave the paint. But in most cases, the old coating has to be removed, since the adhesion to cement plasters, tile adhesives and any building mixes on the painted surface is practically zero.

Paint itself can also be of different types:

• Water emulsion.
• Oily.
• Acrylic

The application surface may also vary - it may be:

• Metal.
• Wood.
• Drywall.
• Concrete.

Important! The most difficult thing is to remove oil paint from unplastered, bare concrete ceiling.

All existing methods of removing paint from any surface are divided into:

• Chemical.
• Mechanical.
• Thermal.

Consider all possible solutions to the problem and answer the question of how to remove paint from the ceiling, using different types of finishing materials as an example.

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How to clean the ceiling of emulsion paint quickly?

Water-based paint has long been one of the favorite finishing materials of masters of any skill. Any painter will cope with painting, because applying a water emulsion is quite simple. In addition, this type of finishing material has many advantages:

• Environmental friendliness.
• Strength.
• Durability.
• Excellent steam throughput.
• Ease of use.
• Possibility of use in any premises: residential, utility, industrial.
• Dyes allow the material of the walls and ceiling to breathe.
• Prevents the formation of mold.

That's just the advantages of water-based paint play a cruel joke: it is quite difficult to remove the coating.

Inventory

To clean the ceiling from water-based paint quickly, you will need the following tools and materials:

• Protective glasses.
• Respirator.
• Ladder.
• Set of spatulas.
• Large roller made of foam.
• Capacity under water.
• Telescopic rod.
• Ditch for wetting the roller.
• Film for sheltering floors and furniture.
• Old newspapers.

We will divide the entire process of cleaning work into several stages.

Room preparation

The process of cleaning the ceiling is a very dirty job, so in order not to spoil the floor and furniture, as well as protect yourself:

1. All that can be taken out of the room - take out.
2. Cover the floor and furniture with foil.
3. Cover the floor in two layers, laying the film crosswise. Do not forget that you will move around the room, standing on a stepladder, and its legs will spread the film and scratch the floor.
4. Sketch old newspapers generously on film. In the process, periodically remove paper, along with dirt, so that there is less debris.
5. Wear personal protective equipment: gloves, goggles and a respirator.

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Ceiling cleaning

Before cleaning the ceiling from old paint, determine its type. Wet the surface thoroughly with water using a roller. Depending on the result, it is necessary to choose a method, in particular:

• If water droplets slide off the surface, you will need funds for resistant paint.
• If the painted layer absorbs water even a little, it means that acrylic dyes were used and it will be much easier to remove the coating.

Removal of water-based paint not waterproof

There are several ways to remove non-waterproof emulsion ink.

Use of industrial facilities

In construction stores, purchase special alkaline compounds. Following the instructions, flush the ceiling and wait for the specified time. The liquid will quickly soften and remove the water emulsion.

Important! The disadvantage of the chemical method is the negative impact on the health of the master, because solvents are quite aggressive substances, they can ruin the floor and burn the hands of the master. Particularly painful chemicals are perceived by people prone to allergies.

Water use

Cleaning the ceiling of old paint with water is a longer, but cheaper and safer way to remove the dye. The principle of this method is to soak a layer of paint with water heated to 50-60 degrees.

To achieve a quality result, proceed as follows:

1. Draw hot water into the container.
2. Dampen the ceiling surface with a foam roller. If you don’t want to climb the ladder, use a roller with a telescopic handle.
3. After 20 minutes, repeat the procedure.
4. Open the windows and doors, arrange a draft in the room that will negatively affect the paint: the coating will begin to swell and exfoliate.
5. Use a spatula to remove entire layers of paint.
6. In places, it is problematic to clean the ceiling of old paint, use a hammer. Hit the surface, not hard, several times so that the coating moves away from the base.
7. As it dries, moisten the surface again with warm water.
8. After removing the old coating, sand the surface to remove the tiniest residue of the coating. When working, try not to damage the plaster, so keep the spatula straight.

Cleaning the ceiling of waterproof paint

Cleaning the ceiling from waterproof paint can be carried out in the following ways.

Mechanical dry

This is a very painstaking, laborious, dirty and very dusty way. The essence of the method is the use of a grinding machine or drill with special nozzles.

Important! If there are a lot of layers of paint or the layers are in hard to reach places, then use a building hair dryer.

Heat the coating so that the colorant peels off more easily and remove it using a grinder.

Important! The disadvantages of the method:

• A lot of dust.

• Plaster can be seriously damaged.

• Long holding of a static position.

• The high cost of the equipment used.

Mechanical - “wet”

Some craftsmen recommend first thoroughly rolling a layer of water-repellent dye with a needle roller, and then moisten the surface with warm water. The liquid will penetrate the resulting microcracks, and the swollen layer of paint will be easier to peel off with a spatula.

Using a paste

This is a universal method that is suitable for any type of paint. Proceed as follows:

1. Cook a regular starch paste.
2. Lubricate the ceiling with the resulting creamy mass.
3. Glue old newspapers over the entire surface of the ceiling. To make paper stick easier, roll the needle roller across the ceiling.
4. Let the newspapers dry.
5. Remove the paper with a spatula with a coat of paint.

Important! Instead of paste, you can use: wallpaper glue, liquid PVA glue.

Useful Tips:

1. In order not to waste money on the purchase of special ready-made solutions for washing off paint, prepare them yourself: dissolve 200 ml of iodine in a bucket of water. Treat the surface of the ceiling with the composition, and after half an hour rinse off the product and paint.
2. Use a soap solution to clean the ceiling of old paint: apply a thick soapy foam with a brush or roller on the ceiling. After some time, the paint will become loose and can easily be removed with a metal spatula.
3. If acrylic additives are present in the water-based coating, add salicylic acid or vodka to the soap solution. Latex impurities can be softened with chloroform or dichloroethane.

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How to remove oil paint from the ceiling?

Suspension based on drying oil, inorganic fillers and pigments, requires an elevated temperature for drying. If the paint dries at room temperature, the coating will not be durable, and the paint dried at 250-300 degrees withstands the effects of weak alkalis. For this reason, dyes based on oil components are characterized by high adhesion, and therefore it is quite difficult to remove them. Modern washes for oil paints are effective only for fresh layers of dye, but they can’t remove the coating of a decade ago.

Consider the main methods of solving the problem, get acquainted with their advantages and disadvantages.

Mechanical method

Taking into account the physical properties of the dye, which, when exposed to high temperatures and chemical compositions, emits strong toxic substances, the mechanical removal method will be most optimal.

Of course, the old grandfather's method is very laborious, rather slow, but it is the cheapest and least harmful.

The essence of the mechanical method:

1. Treat the ceiling area with a grinder or drill with special nozzles.
2. Wipe treated areas with a wire brush. After the cleaning process, rinse off any remaining dye.

Important! The disadvantages of the method: a large amount of dust is formed, the need to use special protective equipment (respirator, gloves, goggles).

Thermal method

Oil paint to a lesser extent than water based paint is destroyed by heat. Therefore, to clean the ceiling of old paint of this type:

1. Heat the painted surface with a hair dryer.
2. Use a spatula to remove softened paint.

Important! The disadvantages of the method:

• It cannot be used in places where electrical wiring is carried out and there is a decorative coating (plastic).

• When heated, toxic substances are released.

• The pungent smell of paint that appears when heated.

• The need to use only in a well-ventilated area.

• Short-term effect of heating. Small areas are recommended.

Chemical

The essence of the method:

1. Prepare a chemical solution to remove the dye according to the instructions.
2. Apply to the surface with a brush or roller.
3. Allow time for exposure and softening of the paint.
4. Remove the coating layer with a spatula.

Important! This method is the fastest, but there are also disadvantages:

• The smell of funds can remain for a long time.

• If the paint was applied in several layers, then the use of a chemical solution does not guarantee perfect removal at a time. You may need to use the solvent several times.

Use our recommendations to quickly remove paint:

1. Prepare a thick paste of caustic soda, chalk, slaked lime. Mix the components in equal proportions.
2. Apply the paste on a painted surface.
3. Leave the mixture for 2-3 hours.
4. Clean the ceiling with a spatula.
5. After the main coat of paint has been removed, clean the ceiling with sandpaper or a wire brush.
6. Rinse the surface with water and a roller or foam sponge to remove dust and dirt that has settled on the boards.

Important! Use this method only in a well-ventilated area, since the prepared composition is a chemical aggressive agent.

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Stock footage

We hope you have chosen for yourself the best way to remove the old ceiling covering and now there is the possibility of using modern finishing materials. We wish you a fast flight of imagination in order to arrange the ceiling not only qualitatively, but also attractively.