How to remove old paint from the floor?

Repair is a delicate matter, especially when the repair is cosmetic, and the turn comes to removing paint from the floor. Work with coatings as accurately as possible. Correct preparation for repairs and tips on how to remove old paint from the floor will help you save time and nerves.

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When is it necessary to remove paint?

If we talk about repairing the floor on which the paintwork is applied, then first you need to remove the last layer. There are options when a new layer is applied to the old, but this will certainly affect the quality of the paint. The main problems when applying new material in this way may be unexpected cracks running along the old coating, and if the layer was originally thick enough, then after a new layer near the threshold, the door may not close.

There are several common problems where it would be nice to clean the floor of old paint:

1. If there are scuffs, then you can leave the floor as is, or you can paint it again.
2. If the floor began to turn yellow and peel off - this means that the paint has reached the expiration date, which is usually written on the package. If you do not remove it in time, the floor can deteriorate so much that you have to do its major repairs.
3. Peeling is also necessary if during repair there is a need to level the surface.
4. Before laying the tiles on the floor, it is also better to remove the paint, since the surface will not have the necessary adhesion.
5. If you want to change the color or texture of the floor.

Today, there are many options for how to remove old paint from the floor, but first you need to determine the type of coating.

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Determine the type of coating

To remove paint from the floor, you need to start by determining its type. There are few options for floors that paint.

Bulk floor

Removing from this coating will be very easy. Difficulty can arise only if during installation there were depressions that were poured additionally during painting. But here you can not panic, because the paint from the troughs is quickly enough removed manually.

Tile and linoleum

To remove paint from tiles or linoleum, it is better to contact professionals, but if you still decide to do the repair yourself, then use only a building hair dryer.

Wooden floor

It is not difficult to remove paint from such a coating, because the tree is soft and supple. It is important not to forget about precautions when working with any solvents and tools and to check how the floor is fixed. If fastening was carried out on nails, then power tools for repairing the floor must be used with more care, otherwise they can hook the nail and break.

To fully understand how to remove old paint from a wooden floor, you need to know the possible ways to remove it. We will talk about this below.

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How to remove old paint?

If you asked this question, you should find out what methods exist. The most common methods for removing paint from are:

• chemical;
• mechanical;
• thermo-mechanical.

Chemical option

To remove paint coatings, you can use various chemicals: acids, solvents or alkalis. The method is quite simple, but it should be noted that chemicals can be dangerous and poisonous to humans.Therefore, it is necessary to be guided by common sense and safety precautions.

The method is incredibly simple:

1. First, the type of paint and the solvent suitable for it are determined.
2. Next, the solvent is applied to the surface and left for 5-30 minutes.
3. After - the paint is removed manually mechanically.

If the coating is not completely removed, then the procedure is repeated after some time. The small remaining areas after all procedures are washed with water.

Important! If the coating is old, then the solvent may not take it the first time.

The method is ideal for acrylic paints, as well as to remove traces of it from glass surfaces.

Remember that the same solvent is not suitable for all types of paint coatings, and mixing inappropriate colors and solvents can cause irreversible effects. Therefore, before applying this method, it is better to consult with professionals.

Mechanical version

This method involves the use of power tools or special devices for manual cleaning, for example:

• grinding machines;
• jigsaws;
• sprayers;
• brushes;
• sandpaper;
• spatulas.

The mechanical version can be divided into manual and electromechanical ..

Electromechanical method

If we talk about the mechanical version using a power tool, usually mean grinding machines. To remove old paint from the floor, use a special nozzle with a wire brush.

Important! Experts also recommend the use of surface grinders or milling cutters, but they are not suitable for all types of painted floors.

There is another way of electromechanical floor cleaning called abrasive treatment. Its essence is as follows: with the help of a special electrospray, a water or air stream with particles of abrasive powder is sent to the old floor.

Important! Before applying this method, you do not need to process or wash the surface, together with the paint the spray gun will blow away all the dirt and wipe the paint even at the joints.

If the special tool is not your option, you can try to remove the paint from the floor manually mechanically.

Manual way

With the manual version of the mechanical removal of paint from the floor, the following tools are used:

1. Hammer. A fairly tough method, usually used to remove oil types of paints and is suitable for pre-preparation for work with tiles.
2. A metal brush is perfect for removing peeling paint from hard coatings.
3. Scouring or sharp spatula. These tools clean small surfaces well from wax, varnish, or cracked paint.
4. The chisel is suitable in those cases when it is impossible to remove old paint from the wooden floor with anything else. When working with a chisel, you can simply remove the top of the floor.
5. Other types of hand tools.

Important! Hand tools are convenient to use if you need to remove a small area of ​​the paintwork. This option is accessible to everyone and universal. With it, you can remove varnish, tar paints, glue, enamels and nitro paints. Of the minuses of this method, it can be noted its complexity.

Thermo-mechanical version

This method consists in the fact that the coating is heated by any available method until it softens. After which it is removed by looping.

For heating, you can use:

• industrial dryer;
• blowtorches;
• gas-burners.

The procedure for working with the thermal method:

1. The floor is heated, holding the heating tool in one hand, while all the incoming air is directed to the coating.
2. As soon as the paint becomes soft, they clean off the paint with the other hand using a scraper or spatula, following the stream of air.

Important! Before work, you need to practice, because working with fire is dangerous, and when both hands are involved, the difficulty increases.

This option is simple and quite effective, but like any other has its advantages and disadvantages.

Of the minuses, it can be noted:

1. High danger when working with fire.
2. Also, when heated, the paint can begin to release poisons that are unsafe for humans.
3. The main disadvantage of this method is that it is not universal. It cannot be used on plastic surfaces, because they will melt faster than the paint leaves, and for concrete or thick metal this method simply will not work. But this option is perfect for wooden floors, especially those that have a thick coat of paint.

Advantages - this method allows you to immediately apply new paint on a cleaned surface, it no longer needs to be dried. This significantly reduces repair time.

Important! All the options presented can be combined, and for example, use a power tool in combination with solvents, but always in accordance with safety precautions.

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Precautionary measures

Whichever way you choose to remove old paint from the floor, it is important to follow the safety instructions:

1. When working with chemical compounds, it is necessary to protect the skin and respiratory tract. Do not forget about rubber gloves and a respirator. Instructions for chemicals are required to be read and used before starting work.
2. When working with a power tool on a wooden floor, there is a risk of touching the nails sticking out in it. Therefore, before starting work, remove or drown all protruding elements.
3. When working with a drill or grinder, it is necessary to wear safety glasses and carry out all work in a respirator.
4. If the work is carried out thermally, then you need to be especially careful. To avoid burns, it is recommended to work in heat-resistant gloves, as well as to ventilate the room, since fumes from molten paint are toxic.
5. When manually removing the decorative coating based on coatings manually, protect yourself from accidental cuts.

When it becomes clear how to remove the paint from the floor, it remains only to determine its type and choose the suitable option.

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Determine the type of paint

In general, coatings are represented by oil, acrylic and water-based coatings. All of them have their own advantages and disadvantages, and also differently adhere to different types of floors.

Oil

This is one of the most difficult coatings, especially in combination with concrete. Therefore, remove the old paint from the floor, if the basis of the material of this type is very difficult.

Such solutions are usually applied in several layers, which greatly complicates the work of removing the coating.

Important! To remove the oil composition suitable as mechanical work, as well as chemical or thermal methods. But the best result is a combination of methods.

Acrylic

If the acrylic is fresh, then it can be easily removed with a normal damp cloth. If the surface has long been covered with paint, then a manual mechanical method or heating is perfect. Also, acrylic is highly soluble in alcohol and solutions based on it.

Water emulsion

This type of paintwork is poorly tolerated by water procedures. Therefore, the softest option for removing this type of paint is to wet the surface with water or solvent, and remove it mechanically. Also, the thermal removal option will help to quickly cope with the task.

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Stock footage

In conclusion, it can be noted that the answer to the question of how and when to repair the floors will always remain only for you. But if the floor is painted - then before repair work the paint must be removed. There are many ways, and which one to choose is up to you. We hope that with the help of our tips in this article, you were able to determine the option that suits you best.