How to clean old paint off doors. How to remove old paint from doors. How to chemically remove old paint from wood

If you decide to do repairs and update the interior of your home, then get ready for serious financial costs. But in order to reduce costs, in the process of repair we pay attention to everything that, with skillful use, can reduce the cost of this difficult undertaking. For example, you fell into the hands of an interior door. It's not new, but what's stopping you from making it like that? To add eccentricity or give a classic austere look to your door, an alternative way will help - painting. Never be afraid to update your old interior. With a skillful approach, you can reduce the cost of repairs and bring a touch of extravagance and comfort to your abode.

But, as a rule, old doors are already painted. And here you need to think carefully about how to remove old paint from a wooden door. To achieve a good result, you need to prepare the door for painting, for this you need to wash it off the paint and sand it. And how to do it with a minimum investment of funds, energy and your precious time, we will now tell you.

We start repairing the door with our own hands

To understand the complexity of this procedure, you first need to determine the nature and type of colorful materials. Specifically, you need to know the answers to the following questions:

  1. What material was the paint applied to?
  2. How many coats of paint solution were put on the door?
  3. What kind of paint was used?
  4. How long has it been since the last product appearance update?

You need to take into account all these factors and with the help of various paint removers bring the surface of your door into a uniform structure.

Important! If you decide to apply new paint to the old one, then you will not achieve the desired result. You will not achieve color contrast and gloss. It is for this purpose that it is necessary to remove old layers of paint.

Preparatory work or the basics of the basics

The entire process of updating the door will be conditionally divided into 3 stages:

  • direct paint removal;
  • preparatory cleaning of the surface and its repair;
  • new door paint.

Why remove old paint?

Do your best to remove the old paint. To do this, below we will offer you several ways. No previous paints and varnishes should remain on the work surface. This is a very important point, otherwise all your work will go down the drain.

The old paint under the new layer will begin to swell and the surface will be damaged. You will do all this preparatory work yourself, so treat the process conscientiously, with enthusiasm.

Why clean the door?

After completing the procedure for cleaning your door from paint, proceed to the pre-paint preparation of a wooden product. Its smoothness, strength and aesthetics upon completion of your work will depend on the quality of the work performed at this stage.

For this:

  1. Remove the remaining pieces of paint from the surface with a spatula.
  2. All irregularities, roughness are removed with sandpaper.
  3. Cracks and potholes close up with putty.

Important! When sealing cracks, pay attention to the color of the putty and the color of future doors. There should not be a big discrepancy in the color scheme. Otherwise, the putty will appear from under the paint.

Several ways to clean the door of old paint

There are three main ways to remove old paint from a wooden door:

  1. Thermal.
  2. Mechanical.
  3. Chemical.

If the door was painted in one layer, then this will make your work easier. All you have to do is lightly “sand” the surface, and you’re done. But we will also look at a more complex option, with several layers of paint, where an integrated approach is needed to bring your door to its proper appearance.

Method 1 - Thermal

It is reasonable to use this technology if you need to remove old paint from a wooden door, and 2 or more layers of paint were previously applied to the surface. Under the influence of high temperatures, the paint softens and becomes pliable.

Therefore, take an industrial hair dryer and heat the surface of a wooden door. Modern building hair dryers are equipped with a temperature controller. This will come in handy if you have glass on the door and you cannot or do not want to remove it.

Then, using a spatula, scrape off the old paint from the wood.

Important! Carry out the manipulation carefully, without damaging the wood structure in difficult areas.

Method 2 - Mechanical

A very good way to remove old stubborn paint. Scraping and sanding will bring your door into proper shape. In this way, you will achieve the desired result, but in return it will require your diligence and effort. To implement this method, you need to have a few tools:


The whole essence of this method lies in scraping off thick layers of paint, followed by sanding. In doing so, consider the following features:

  1. The use of sandpaper on a grinder is best to start with a coarse grit and move on to a finer one. This will eliminate roughness on the surface of the wood.
  2. In hard-to-reach places, use a knife, chisel, scraper, depending on the complexity of the site.
  3. If the paint is applied in several layers and holds well, then you simply will not find a better way than using a grinder with special brushes. This is truly a killer option.
  4. In the end, using not coarse sandpaper, bring the surface of wooden doors to the desired state.

Important! In some cases, an ordinary piece of glass is very suitable, especially if there are no other tools at hand and you are not going to buy them, as well as special chemical washes. After all, all this costs money, sometimes a lot.

An abundance of unnecessary glass at hand will allow you to cheaply and efficiently remove old paint. Just be very careful not to damage the tree or injure yourself.

Method 3 - Chemical

A 100% way that does not require large physical and temporary losses. In every hardware store you can purchase special chemicals for removing old paintwork materials.

The best paint removers

You can not limit yourself in choosing their assortment, these are Denalt, Marshall SET, Gunter Gut Umsetzer, Graffi Guard 2030.

They contain various chemical elements that, when applied to old paint, soften it, and it is easily removed with a spatula.

Tools for the job

Before you start removing paint using special tools, you need to prepare some tools:

  1. the solvent itself.
  2. Brushes for applying a special tool.
  3. Putty knife.
  4. Gloves.
  5. Goggles.

Important! For this procedure, select a suitable room or utility room. Chemical elements negatively affect the environment and the smell of most products is far from the most pleasant.

General cleaning scheme

To clean the door of old paint, prepare the field of action in this way:

  • Remove all attachments from the doors - locks, handles, curtains. For convenience and room to maneuver.
  • Then evenly apply a chemical reagent to the surface of the door with a brush, after observing the safety measures when working with chemicals.
  • Protect hands, eyes, exposed skin by wearing protective gloves and goggles.
  • The method and nature of the application of the wash depends on its characteristics and method of application.

Features of the use of different paint washes:

  1. Application of Graffi Guard 2030. Apply with a brush on the doors in light circular motions. Let it brew for 5-10 minutes. The reagent reacts with the paint at the molecular level. There will be a splitting of the old paint, after which you can easily wash off the surface of the door from the dried old paint. If it is necessary to repeat this procedure, keep a time interval of 10-15 minutes. This will finally take away all the paint you do not need.
  2. Drawing Gunter. With a brush or spatula, apply a layer of wash 1-2 mm thick. Depending on the thickness of the paint to be removed, leave to sour for 15-25 minutes. Finally, remove the old paint with a spatula, degrease with white spirit or solvent. Reapplication of a wash for old surfaces is allowed.
  3. Application of Marshall. The agent is applied with a brush. After 10-15 minutes, scrape off the swollen old paint with a scraper or spatula. Then wipe the entire treated surface with a cloth moistened with cellulose solvent. Dry the surface to be painted. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

Preparing for painting

After you have successfully managed to remove the old paint from the wooden door, we move on to another stage of painting the old door:

  1. Take a grinder and carefully bring the canvas of your doors to perfect condition.
  2. If a grinder is missing in some places, then sand it by hand or use a bar with emery glued to it.

Important! When sanding wooden surfaces, always carry out any movements, whether by hand or with a machine, in one direction. This way you will avoid roughness in those places where you did not follow this rule.

The machine will remove all bumps, chips, scratches, dents, cracks. But with such a sweep, some problems may arise:

  1. If under the old paint you find blackening of the wood, then this can be eliminated by applying putty to the damaged areas. Spread putty, let dry and rub.
  2. If dark spots have become massive, then there is a “miracle solution” to eliminate them. The combination of chlorine with water 1:3, when applied with a soft brush on damaged areas, removes blackness.

You easily and naturally managed to clean off the old paint, and the canvas of your doors is in proper condition. It is without bumps, roughness, all cracks are sealed. The putty is dry and sanded. The door is dry and dust free and ready to be painted. We move on to the next stage of painting the old door.

How to paint a wooden door?

First of all, you need to make the right choice of paint. Basically, to protect wood from external influences, oil-based paint is taken. It is deeply absorbed into the structure and protects the tree very well from moisture, cold, frost. Protects from dwelling and eating shashel.

As for the tools:

  1. The paint on the door can be applied with a brush. Somewhat laborious, but you will be sure that you have carefully painted over every small depression, every ledge.
  2. If the door is not paneled, but flat, use a roller.
  3. The most effective way is to use a spray gun. Very convenient and economical option, applies even layers of paint without streaks.

We paint the door with a brush or roller

Consider the option with a brush or roller. Here everything is tritely simple:

  1. Stir the paint thoroughly before painting.
  2. Apply paint with a brush or roller in an even layer.

Important! Be careful with paint drips. If you notice smudges, then do not delay, but immediately eliminate them until the paint reacts with wood and oxygen and begins to thicken.

Spray gun option:

  • Shake the paint well before use.
  • Since it is thick for spray gun use, dilute it with solvent type 647. Determine the density of the solution individually (it all depends on the viscosity of the paint itself).
  • Pour into the expansion tank of the gun.
  • Set the air pressure to 2-3 atmospheres.
  • Wear protective clothing - a respirator, gloves, even better - old unnecessary clothes or special overalls, a dressing gown.
  • With smooth movements, paint from top to bottom of the product.
  • After finishing painting, rinse the spray gun with a solvent.

Important! Repeat the painting procedure after 15-20 minutes (as soon as it is absorbed), since in this way the paint lays down in a thin layer, and the first time it may not evenly paint over the entire plane of your wooden door. After applying two or three layers, you will achieve the desired result.

Choose from any of these methods, but remember to use safety precautions and personal protective equipment when working with paints and electrical appliances. We hope that our tips will help you achieve your goal.

Sometimes, after repair work, it is necessary to replace or update interior doors, but some people do not have the opportunity to purchase new ones or do not want to throw away the old ones. Designs can be made from a solid array, be carved, be of value. Then the question arises of how to remove the old paint from the door for further updating and fit it into the interior of the room.

How not to damage the door covering?

Cleaning the door panels from the old coating will require effort, especially if several layers of paints and varnishes have been applied. Having completed this time-consuming task, the result of applying a new coating will surely please the owners - it will give the structure an updated look.

If you neglect this stage of updating, the result can be unpleasantly surprising. The new coating will lie unevenly, repeat all smudges, cracks. All paints and varnishes are composed of chemicals, so it is not known what reaction to expect when two dyes interact in different products. Layers may bulge and color may not be as expected.

Having decided on the independent removal of the old painted layer, you need to determine the most appropriate method of carrying out the work. The choice of method directly depends on the material of the door leaf. Wood, plywood, pressed sawdust or metal require a different approach. The methods applicable when removing the painted layer from metal are not at all suitable for wood.

When starting to work on removing the paintwork, take into account the following parameters:

  • canvas material;
  • number of dry layers;
  • type of previously used paints and varnishes.

Considering all these points, it will be possible with less effort to determine the most suitable reagent or tool for removing the ink base. In addition to the work of removing old paint from wooden doors, they clean the surface and close up cracks. Before carrying out any manipulations, it is desirable to remove the structure from the hinges.

Only after carrying out the preparatory work, you can start applying a new paint.

Methods for removing paint from a door depending on the material

To decide how to remove old paint from a door at home, you need to determine the most appropriate cleaning method.

There are three types:

  • chemical - application of chemicals;
  • mechanical (instrumental);
  • thermal - exposure to high temperature.

Sometimes, in order to perform better work, it is necessary to combine two methods.

chemical method

The chemical method of removal is the most convenient and takes little time. This is a method without the use of special equipment, electricity. Suitable for removing heat-resistant coatings that are not amenable to heat.

To select the correct type of chemical reagent, you need to know what material was previously used. A consultant from a building supermarket will help you choose a special “wash”. Before using it, you must study the instructions, as well as protect yourself with personal protective equipment. When working with toxic solvents, you will need a respirator - be sure to use gloves, goggles.

What solvents are used?

For convenience, "washes" are available in different forms. This allows them to be used on any surface:

  • liquid reagents;
  • pastes;
  • jelly;
  • dry mixes for preparation of solutions.

To dissolve paint and varnish coatings, the following types of solvents are used:

  • based on white spirit for dissolving oil, nitrocellulose, pentaphthalic paints and varnishes from a plank surface;
  • products based on caustic soda or caustic alkali (dissolve acrylic and water-based paints).

Before treatment with a reagent, the surface should be cleaned of contaminants. The substance is applied for about 30 minutes, then the softened layer is removed with an iron spatula. If necessary, the procedure is repeated until the complete removal of the colored layer.

mechanical method

Before deciding how best to mechanically clean a wooden door of old paint, you need to acquire the necessary equipment. Machining MDF and fiberboard will require more effort than using a "wash".

Dry layers can be removed manually: sandpaper, spatula, metal brush. This kind of work takes a lot of time and effort. It is easier to do this with the help of electric tools that can be rented at a hardware store, from friends.

With the help of a knife with a spatula, paint is well removed in hard-to-reach places. Then, the canvas is processed with coarse sandpaper.

Precautionary measures

It is better to remove paint from the door leaf mechanically on the street. When processing with tools, dust is generated, so it is recommended to clean the surface a little, moisten with plain water. In order not to breathe dust, you need to stock up on a respirator or mask.

For mechanical cleaning, you can use a piece of glass. Be very careful not to cut yourself or damage the wood surface (it is recommended to wear thick protective gloves). Remove unnecessary layers along the wood fibers.

thermal method

The thermal method of removing the old dye is based on heating the layers until they soften. Since high temperatures are used during operation, this method is not suitable for flammable materials such as plywood. When working with a wooden door, you need to choose the appropriate temperature regime.

Expensive fittings, jewelry, glass are removed before all work is done so that they do not melt or otherwise be damaged. The surface is cleaned of dirt, dust, debris. Remove the paint at the moment when it softens and bubbles

Important! When using the heating method, care must be taken not to burn yourself on a hot surface, especially if a metal door is being processed.

Thermal heating is best carried out outdoors to avoid the appearance of a pungent chemical odor and toxic volatile substances.

Tools for the job

The following tools are used to heat the painted surface:

  • thermal gun (melts paint - easier to remove with a knife, brush);
  • hair dryer (construction) - used for wood, can be used indoors, the temperature is regulated;
  • gas burner;
  • blowtorch;
  • iron with foil.

The mechanical cleaning method, in addition to sandpaper, a spatula, a knife, a metal brush, involves the use of such power tools:

  • grinder equipped with a grinding nozzle;
  • Sander;
  • drill with a brush for metal.

For chemical cleaning, you will need a spatula.

Having figured out how to effectively clean a wooden door from paint, you can begin the processing process. These methods will help save on the purchase of a new design and ennoble the old one.

How to remove old paint from doors and cover with new as quickly as possible

In matters of repair, one of the important stages is the installation of a new door or the renewal of an existing one. If you have the financial opportunity, you can replace the old door, but if there is not enough money, then try to return the life of the old door structure. Read our article on how to do this.

Features of removing paintwork from doors

Painting doors is an alternative way to restore their attractive appearance. If there are several door structures in the house, then during restoration it is desirable to give them a single (or at least similar) shade. But before you start painting the door leaf, it must be carefully prepared. And for this you need to clean the old paint from the surface. You will also need to prepare the old door for a new painting, and only then it will be possible to apply a new layer of paint on it.

Do not be afraid to update old doors, because with the right approach to repair, they can become a decoration of any room. Remember the main rule - the paintwork should be applied evenly to the door leaf. Such an effect can be achieved only if the surface is properly prepared for the procedure, making its structure homogeneous. It is for this purpose that it is proposed to pre-clean off the old paint from the tree.

Compliance with the following rules will help you complete the preparatory procedures correctly:

  • First, try to qualitatively clean the door of old paint . No traces of the old coating should remain on the surface of the canvas. If this requirement is not met, then in the future the old paintwork material will begin to swell, and the entire surface of the updated door will be damaged. You will do all the preparatory work yourself, so focus on its quality.
  • After removing the old coating, the canvas must be leveled, removing potholes and small cracks. For these purposes, there is a special material - putty. When buying it, pay attention to such characteristics of the material as frost resistance and moisture resistance, as well as information regarding the temperature conditions under which the putty will retain its properties. There are varieties of material that do not tolerate excessive moisture and negative temperatures. This should be taken into account when purchasing.
  • A separate issue is the purchase of varnish or paint for the restored door structure. It is better to choose cans with such compositions with one serial number - then you can be sure that the paint will not differ in its shade.

There are several ways to remove old paint from a wooden surface. If the door was painted in one layer, and the paint and varnish composition still retained its attractiveness, then the surface is only lightly sanded and a layer of paint of a new sample is applied on top. However, this should only be done if there are no cracks or damage on the old coating. It is better, of course, to remove the old paint. This process is carried out in the following ways:

  • Heat the surface and remove the old paint from the doors, because it will become soft and pliable under thermal influence.
  • Another good tool for removing old paint is scraping or sanding the wood. This method is classified as mechanical. It is distinguished by its laboriousness and duration, but it demonstrates a high degree of efficiency.
  • You can also remove old paint by using a chemical method. It involves the use of special reagents called washes.

3 best ways to remove old paint from wood

mechanical way

One of the first thoughts that arises when looking at a layer of paint that needs to be removed is: “Yes, it will be the easiest to peel it off!”. And now the hands are already reaching for a grinder or a drill with grinding nozzles. We recommend not to rush and analyze the situation, because mechanical removal is not that inefficient, but it is not suitable for all products.

  • Can the product be taken outside? There will be an incredible amount of dust and flying off pieces of the coating, and if you start removing paint indoors, then you will have to start a major cleaning later. Plus, you will have to work in a respirator and glasses, which is also not very convenient.
  • Is there a thick layer of paint on the product? Previous generations did not stand on ceremony with oil paint: they were tired of color - just cover the old layer with a new one. It turns out that on some Soviet doors, a layer cake of 4-5 layers of oil paint has accumulated, each of which is much thicker than the layer of acrylic paint that we use now. With the mechanical removal of such a layer, you will score more than one skin without achieving the desired result, and this is not only insulting, but also quite expensive.
  • Is the product stationary? Removing varnish from the legs of a chair with a grinder is a good idea, but cleaning a window frame or skirting boards that you are not going to beat off the wall in this way is not very good - because of the risk of touching a wall or window with a grinding disc.
  • Is the surface of the product flat? If the product has depressions or protrusions, then the mechanical method will not be the best choice for removing paint, as it will still remain in the joints and recesses.

It turns out that you can remove the paint by grinding if its layer is not thick and the surface is even, otherwise the effort spent on removing the coating will not be worth the result that you get.

Sometimes for thin layers it is enough to rub the coating with a metal brush and sand it with sandpaper with a medium abrasive. If the surface area is small, then this is the best way to remove paint without special tools and substances.

Chemical method

Quite quickly and easily, chemical washes, which are sold in hardware stores, will help to remove the old layer of paint. Only they, of course, do not wash off the paint, but rather soften it, so you still have to work with a spatula. Typically, such a product is applied to the product with a brush or roller, left, depending on the type of product and instructions - usually for 20-40 minutes, and then the softened layer is pryed off and scraped off with a spatula. If the first time it was possible to get rid of only part of the paint, then the procedure is repeated, but the smallest residues can be cleaned with sandpaper.

It is important, when buying such a wash, to check with the seller or make sure for yourself that it is suitable for your type of material and paint. You can save yourself the hassle of looking for a specific washer for your type of paint by purchasing an all-purpose cleaner. Also, think in advance about whether you can leave the room for the duration of the wash and then ventilate it well or take the product outside. If yes, then you can take a regular solvent-based paint remover, if not, then it is better to give preference to more modern expensive odorless gel washes. That's just the absence of smell does not mean that they are not toxic: with any wash it is necessary to work with gloves, and the room must be ventilated.

From the experience of builders, we can say that cheap Russian-made washes do not do well with old oil paint if it is applied in several layers. With more expensive foreign counterparts, this problem does not arise.

If you have caustic soda, then you can not spend money on special washes at all: add a little water to it, dissolve the soda, and then mix it with ground oatmeal to make a paste. Apply the paste to the product, wait about an hour until bubbles form, remove the paint with a spatula, and then degrease the surface. Gloves and ventilation are also relevant for this method.

Do not use plastic containers and tools when working with a wash, as they may deteriorate from exposure to chemicals. Also, do not use washes if plastic is located close to the wooden product.

thermal method

The latter method is considered preferable for removing paint from wood, since it can be done quickly, easily, inexpensively and without harm to the product itself. It consists in heating the paint to a temperature at which it begins to correct and release gas. This will cause it to bubble, and it will be easy for you to peel off the old layer by prying these bubbles with a spatula. But what is the best way to do it?

Heating with an open flame, such as a burner, is not only dangerous, but will also have questionable results. Yes, the paint will start bubbling, but fire can lead to drying out of the wood, burnt spots on the product, or poor-quality subsequent painting due to resins released during the treatment with a burner.

It is better to use a hair dryer, but not a household one, but a construction one. Its heating is hundreds of times stronger, and the paint begins to lag behind the wood literally before our eyes: just have time to pry it with a spatula. Of course, it’s scary for an inexperienced person to work with such a hair dryer: if you accidentally point a stream of hot air at yourself, the case will 100% end in a hospital. But subject to all security measures, this method beats all the others! If you have a person willing to lend you a blow dryer for a day.

Strong heating, as well as chemical processing, is not allowed if the product has plastic parts that cannot be dismantled. Also, do not heat the wall with a hair dryer in areas where the wiring passes, as this can lead to damage to it.

Or maybe not remove the old layer at all?

Yes, it is often necessary to remove the old layer of paint, especially when the paint has begun to crack and peel off or when the surface has become very uneven and bumpy due to the multi-layering. But you don't have to go through the long and complicated process of stripping paint by choosing a new coat on top of the old one.

The surface will have to be prepared: the oil paint must be sanded, removing the bumps, then washed with an alkaline solution, such as soap, primed with an alkyd or synthetic primer, and then apply a new layer. If after grinding the surface is still not leveled, the product can be puttied before priming.

If you want a translucent effect with a translucent wood texture, then the paint will have to be removed, even if painting a new layer on top of it is quite possible.

You will need some skill in removing paint from wood, but once you figure it out once, you can easily repeat the procedure if necessary. How exactly you will remove the coating is up to you, but, you see, now you have plenty to choose from.

During the period of repair work, it often turns out that the old door does not fit the new environment either in style or in color. But it does not always require replacement. If the canvas is made soundly, of high quality, you don’t need to get rid of an expensive item and spend money on acquiring a new one, but only carry out procedures for cleaning it and preparing it for new staining. This takes into account the material from which the doors are made, the depth of penetration of the old paint layer into the canvas, the number of layers.

Bringing the old door back to life

The easiest option, but costly, would be to replace the old shabby wooden door leaf with a new one made of MDF, hollow inside. A zealous owner will not throw away the old door, but will begin to restore it if:

  • it is made of oak or other dense material that will last for several decades;
  • has dimensions that differ from those accepted by the standard, especially in stalins with high ceilings. The manufacture of such a canvas to order will cost the owner a pretty penny;
  • has an unusual decoration with carvings;
  • the owners are creative people who can make an art object out of an ordinary wooden door.

Cleaning the door of paint

The procedure for bringing an old wooden product into proper form is conditionally divided into several stages:

  • removal of the old layer;
  • door repair, preparation of its canvas for a new painting;
  • fresh paint.

In order for the product to receive a new life, to serve the owners for the prescribed period, there were no swelling and delamination, it is necessary to remove the old paint from the doors. Among the various methods, there are several main ones:

Heat treatment

Heat treatment is carried out by directing hot air to the door. Such purification occurs when using gas burners, building hair dryers. The advantage of this method of freeing a wooden door from old paint is the absence of dust, but the disadvantage is that the surface being cleaned is more likely to ignite. Such procedures are carried out in the open air, with the use of personal protective equipment (respirators, masks), they have a tank of water on hand to destroy the possible occurrence of a fire in the bud. It is used in cases where there are several layers of coating on a wooden surface. Under the influence of hot air, the previously applied coating swells, it is scraped off with a spatula.

mechanical cleaning

You can clean the door of paint with scrapers, spatulas, brushes for metal. The door is removed from the hinges, laid in a horizontal position, with the help of improvised materials, a grinder removes the paint. The method is not effective due to dust, as well as possible damage to the wooden surface.

Chemical cleaning

It is characterized by obtaining a positive result, is in the greatest demand due to the speed of action of washing reagents, which, when applied to the old paint layer, soften it, thereby facilitating the removal of old paint.

Attention!

Work is carried out in the open air or with a constant supply of fresh air due to the specific smell of flushing agents.

General scheme for surface cleaning and preparation for painting

In life, all 3 cleaning methods are used, since one is often ineffective. To remove the paint from the doors, it is removed from the hinges, laid on a horizontal surface, the handles and locks are unscrewed. To bring the door into proper shape, before painting, remove the old coating in any of the ways, grind the surface, removing small defects, chips, repair scratches, more serious defects with putty.

In order to qualitatively remove old paint from the doors, materials, tools and protective equipment are prepared:

  • solvent;
  • brushes;
  • spatulas;
  • gloves and goggles;
  • Sander;
  • wood putty;
  • skin of different grain sizes.

Protect hands with rubber gloves, and eyes with glasses, apply the drug with a brush, covering the entire surface of the door.

Types of washes

Paint washes are available in the form of:

From a wooden surface, first, with a spatula, remove the layers that peel off themselves, then, with a brush, apply a wash to the dense layers of the coating. The speed of action of the agent is several minutes to a day. When choosing washes, one should take into account on what basis the coloring composition was made, otherwise, if the solvent is chosen incorrectly, the idea to remove old paint from a wooden door is doomed to failure and leads to expenses for buying a new washer. Distinguish:

  • various liquid solvents based on white spirit are used to remove PF, NC, oil paints;
  • masters make a special washing paste, consisting of caustic soda and oatmeal. Removes water-based, acrylic paints. Such a paste is 100% effective in places with complex geometry with the presence of wooden curls, monograms. It is applied in a thick layer on a tree, waiting for the paint to swell, removed with scrapers, washed with water under pressure, removing an aggressive wash;
  • modern washes, which are gels that can soften the old coating in 15-20 minutes. With their help remove any kind of paint.

Attention!

The task of the wash is to penetrate the paint, soften it, swell, without harming the wooden surface.

Stages of work

Before removing the paintwork with a remover:

  1. The surface is wiped from dust.
  2. Evenly cover the painted wood with a brush, without going over the same place twice.
  3. The surface covered with a wash is left for the time indicated on the label, covered with a film for best effect.
  4. Soon the reagent becomes brown or brown, the paint rears up, it is removed with a spatula, disposed of.
  5. If the result is unsatisfactory, the procedure is repeated.
  6. The cleaned surface is washed with an aqueous solution of vinegar, the door is wiped dry, and left for final drying in a draft.
  7. After drying, the products proceed to puttying, sealing small cracks and chips.
  8. Smooth the surfaces with fine sandpaper. With a grinder, this procedure is facilitated. Level and grind the surface, making movements in one direction to avoid roughness.
  9. Dry rags remove dust, remnants of putty.
  10. The door is ready for painting.

Painting a wooden door

Suitable for painting a street wooden door is oil paint, because it protects the tree from the action of rain, snow, frost. Prevents the appearance of the wood beetle. Paint doors:

  1. With a brush. The paint in the jar is stirred, poured a little into a small wide container and, dipping lightly into the paint, paint the product, moving the brush in one direction. It is convenient to paint over small details and curls with a brush.
  2. roller. If the surface is flat and large, a roller is used to apply an even layer. To do this, the paint is poured into a special trough and the roller is slightly dipped into the paint, the object is painted, moving the hand in one direction.
  3. Spray gun. The paint is well mixed, if it is too thick, it is diluted with a slightly suitable solvent. Pour into the spray gun compartment, set the desired pressure and size of drops when spraying by test painting an unnecessary piece of wood. They put on protective equipment (goggles, a respirator, gloves) and paint, moving their hand with a gun from the bottom up.

Attention!

When streaks appear, they are immediately removed with a rag so that they do not freeze with ugly drops. Painting from a spray gun after 15-20 minutes is carried out again with incomplete painting of the tree.

Iron door cleaning

Entrance doors are usually made of metal. They are constantly exposed to the weather. Therefore, they cannot simply be tinted like wood. The paint layer is completely removed from them. For cleaning you will need:

  • acetone or white spirit;
  • skin of different grain sizes;
  • Sander;
  • putty knife.

Before work, the metal sheet is removed from the hinges and laid in a horizontal position. The colored layers are removed with a grinder, using different nozzles, depending on the thickness of the previous layer. Then the small remnants of the layer are covered with a solvent and left to swell. The swollen paint is removed with a spatula. As well as from a wooden surface, a colorful coating is removed from a metal door by thermal and chemical means. When using chemical washes, the preparation is immediately removed from the surface after the paint is removed by cleaning the door with solvent and water. The cleaned surface is leveled, freed from cracks and flaws, using automotive putty, in places of damage, then sanded by hand or with a grinder.

Painting a metal door

Entrance doors have a large surface, so they are preferred to be painted with a spray gun or with a roller. Painting starts from the top, moving down and trying not to go on the painted layers. After 15-20 minutes, light and unpainted places are re-stained. If streaks appear during painting and dry up, they are protected with sandpaper after the surface has completely dried and the entire surface is re-painted. The loops are also painted over in the desired color. Since the paint has a strong chemical smell that does not disappear for a long time, metal products are painted on the street or in a utility room with open doors and windows.

Attention!

Do not paint in rainy weather and frost. At high humidity there is no strong adhesion of the paint to the product, and in the cold the paint thickens and does not adhere well to the surface.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, experts advise that even with the complete removal of the old coating, use a new paint of the same brand. In this case, the owners will avoid possible problems in the form of small blisters of paint in different places. Then the updated product will not stand out as an unsightly stain against the backdrop of a fresh repair.

There are several ways to remove paint from a door surface. This task is not easy: you have to put in enough effort. And yet, armed with a tool and knowledge, even very difficult work can be done.

It will be problematic to restore the door during the repair, or simply refresh the color of the canvas if the surface is not prepared. Most often, the sash is covered with several layers of old paint, has noticeable bumps and smudges. Even using the most expensive paint, the finish may not be what you want.

In addition, the old coating may react with the new, because it is not always possible to understand what chemical composition the previous dye had. Therefore, it is better to remove the old layer, otherwise it will lead to cracking, swelling and the formation of bald spots on the coating.

You will have to carefully remove the old paint even if the old coating had a dark color, and now light light shades have been chosen for the product. Overlapping the previous layer will be difficult: the dark color will show through. As a result, the canvas may acquire a completely incomprehensible shade, or several layers of paint will have to be used. At the same time, it should be noted that painting in several layers has another disadvantage - the doors will begin to close worse, as the layers begin to accumulate at the ends. It is not necessary to remove the paint on the upper and lower ends, it is enough just to sand them, but only if the shade of the old paint material matches the new one.

It is sometimes necessary to remove the old coating partially, from the ends or from the side where the door is sheathed with leatherette. Unfortunately, this is a complex process, and it will take a lot of effort to achieve the desired result. Special tools are used to remove paint from wood, and a metal door is prepared for a new painting in a different way.

Removing paint with chemicals

The chemical method is quite effective. Special fluid can be purchased at any hardware store. Only the agent must be suitable for the corresponding coating. For example, the composition will not work if oil paint is removed, and it was intended for metal coating. It is worth warning that the products are unsafe for health. Solutions are sold in dry, liquid, pasty form.

When choosing a tool, you need to carefully study the instructions for use. The liquid can be highly toxic and will require a respirator and work gloves to handle. It is pointless to recommend a certain remedy, so it is best to purchase the one that is. Paste and gel are most often used on uneven surfaces. In addition, it is necessary to buy mineral kerosene to remove the agent and particles of old paint. Additional solvent treatment may also be required if it is written in the instructions.

After application, the product may not work immediately, but only after a few hours. Therefore, in order not to say that it did not work, you need to study the instructions before applying. For a certain time, the product will soften the old paint coating to the base. Then you can remove the old layer using a spatula or a metal brush.

It is worth noting that before applying the reagent, the surface must be prepared, namely, cleaned of peeled layers. To reduce the consumption of the product, it is applied to a durable layer of the painted surface. For work, you will need overalls, goggles, a respirator and rubberized gloves.

Cleaning a metal door from old paint

Repeatedly painted metal door does not look attractive, especially when exposed to temperature changes. To update the surface, it must be cleaned, for which special or improvised means are used. For example, a grinder or special tools with various nozzles are used.

Before starting the procedure, the door is removed from the hinges, then the fittings and decorating linings are dismantled from it, and they are taken out into the yard for processing. The easiest method to get rid of paint is to use a blow dryer, kerosene, paint remover, a spatula, and a cipher machine.

Without the use of the necessary remover, it is almost impossible to remove paint from the surface with a spatula alone, as it can damage the smooth surface of the metal. After removing the paint, it is recommended to grind the surface with a machine or sandpaper.

The grinder effectively removes the old layer, but for this you need to choose the right nozzle. If there is not a wide variety of nozzles, then a nozzle with medium spraying is used, processing a surface of low power. To make the work more efficient, the tool head sometimes needs to be cleaned of paint that is clogged there.

A building hair dryer can also be used to remove paint. The process consists in the fact that it melts the paint under the action of hot air pressure, after which the layer is removed with a spatula. In addition, when processing, you need to be careful, since the surface of the door is very hot, so you need to be careful not to touch it with body parts. It is best to remove the paint after warming up, when it begins to bubble. In this way, only a metal surface can be processed. If this method is used on a wooden door, it can be burned through. Glass inserts must be removed in advance so that they do not melt. It is also worth noting that the smell of burning will appear during processing, in connection with this, the procedure must be done on the street.

Cleaning a wooden door

Wood differs from metal and stone surfaces in texture, which can be easily damaged by sharp objects. Therefore, the processing must be done carefully so that the fibers retain their integrity, and the spatula must be tilted along the pattern. Using chemical reagents, it is necessary to protect yourself with a respirator, goggles and rubberized gloves. To prevent the product from getting on the skin, you need to open the jar and apply it carefully. If the substance comes into contact with the skin, it is necessary to immediately rinse it, and if irritation persists, consult a doctor.

With any processing method, it is best to work outdoors. When using a grinder, do not turn it on at maximum power. To verify the effectiveness of the nozzle, check it on the upper and lower ends of the door. If the rotation of the nozzle is too fast, even very strong wood can be damaged.

When using a thermal treatment method, any tool will not work to heat the surface, because you can easily burn through the wood. A hair dryer may be used as the temperature of the hot air heats up the paint without damaging the wood.

At the end of the work, you need to clean the surface. Before applying a new coat of paint, the doors are carefully sanded. The formed cracks and chips need to be puttied. Only after the above procedures can you start painting the door.

The easiest way to restore attractiveness to old doors is to paint the canvas. The work is simple, but requires compliance with the technology. An improperly prepared surface or purchased the wrong paintwork material will lead to a worse result. When painting wooden doors, it is advisable to lay the sash horizontally, which will avoid the formation of streaks.

The choice of compositions is huge. Traditional opaque enamels and oil-based paints are preferred if you want to hide the unsightly surface of an old door.

Coating transparent composition allows you to save the textural pattern of the tree on the new canvas. Stain refreshes the color, gives a suitable shade. An attractive appearance is acquired by wood coated with oil impregnation. To achieve the maximum effect, the staining of the door leaf is combined with staining with a transparent varnish.

Paints and varnishes are made on a water and chemical basis. contains an aggressive solvent. In order not to be poisoned by toxic fumes, work is performed in a well-ventilated area. Alkyd paints and varnishes have enhanced water-repellent properties. They are best used for painting wooden entrance doors, as well as bathrooms, baths and utility rooms.

They are made on the basis of water. The consistency of the paintwork material is excellent for brush application. The water base is non-toxic. The compositions are ideal for painting interior door blocks.

Instruments

The list of necessary tools depends on the type of work performed:

  • To mechanically remove old stubborn paint, you will need a scraper and sandpaper. You can speed up the process with a grinder or a drill with grinding nozzles.
  • With the chemical method of removing the old coating, enamel washers are used. Additionally, you will need a lot of rags and personal protective equipment: glasses, gloves, gauze bandage or a respirator.
  • If the thermal method is chosen, an electric heat gun is used to remove the remnants of dry paint.
  • To cover panel doors, it is better to use a roller. On paneled doors, paint is applied with a paint brush.
  • A spatula will be needed if the door leaf is to be puttyed, and a grinder is used for final grinding.

After preparing all the tools and materials, they begin restoration work.

How to remove old stubborn paint from a wooden surface?

In order to qualitatively paint old wooden doors, the coating that has become unusable is first cleaned off. Do the cleaning delicately so as not to disturb the surface of the door leaf. Special care will be required if you need to repaint a veneered wooden door. The veneer is very thin and is afraid of mechanical influences. There are four common ways to remove old paint from wood surfaces.

Mechanical

The most time-consuming and aggressive mechanical method is used when other methods of removing paint from a wooden surface have not brought a positive result. Veneered doors are not subjected to such cleaning. Mechanically, durable nitro-paints and alkyd enamels are usually removed. The peeled places are cleaned with a scraper or spatula. Stubborn paint is removed with a grinder, grinder or drill with grinding nozzles. It is difficult to rub with sandpaper. It is usually used if there is no power tool.

Sandblasting Applications

The mechanical cleaning method includes the use of sandblasting. High-pressure air from the compressor mixes with dry sand particles and the strong pressure of the jet breaks up the old paint. Sandblasting is easy to remove varnish or enamel from a wooden door in a few minutes, but it is important not to overdo it. Impacts of grains of sand crush wood together with paint. If you stay in one place for a long time, the surface will be damaged. To remove a thin layer of paint, a fine abrasive is used: river sand or soda.

heat treatment

The panel and panel doors are subjected to heat treatment. For a safe way to remove paint, use a heat gun or a building hair dryer powered by electricity. The old coating, when heated, acquires a soft structure, easily scraped off with a scraper. Professionals use gas burners, but they work with such a tool carefully. An open source of fire, along with paint, can burn wood.

Chemical method

To remove paint from doors chemically, solutions are used that soften most types of enamels and varnishes. Work is done in a well-ventilated area using personal protective equipment. The method is suitable for veneered door leaf, but first you need to read the instructions if the solution is safe for veneer.

To clean a wooden door from old paint, it is enough to lubricate it with a chemical preparation. After 5-10 minutes, the coating will rise in bubbles that can be easily removed with a scraper.

Surface preparation

The quality of painting depends on the correct preparation of the product. The process consists of the following steps:


How to paint a wooden door?

Having decided to paint wooden doors with your own hands, you must not forget about the box. A design that has a different color of the frame and sash will look strange. Prepare a wooden door for painting in two ways:

  1. The door leaf is removed from the hinges and laid horizontally on a flat table or stools. Cleaning and painting of the sash and frame are carried out separately.
  2. The door leaf remains hanging on its hinges. After cleaning the sash and box, it is fixed with wedges in the open state for the duration of painting.

Of the two options, it is better to paint a wooden door at home with the sash removed. On a horizontally laid canvas, streaks will not appear, and it is much easier to clean the old coating. If the fittings are fixed, use the second option.

Coloring in the usual way

Under the usual method of staining, it is meant to paint a wooden door white or give any other shade without the effect of artificial aging. Opaque enamel is used for work. The roller and paint brush are pre-prepared by removing loose bristles with villi.

The staining process in the usual way depends on the design of the door block:

  • Shield a wooden door is painted with a roller. First, the paint is applied to the ends of the sash. Further, it is rolled with a roller from the left corner of the upper part of the canvas to the right, and so on over the entire surface. After the first layer has dried, the sash is painted in the longitudinal direction. The second layer is allowed to dry. In the final, the coloring of the ends and the canvas is repeated from the upper corner from left to right.

  • Wooden paneled the door is painted with a paint brush. First, the ends of the sash, curly protrusions and depressions are covered. Further painting of the leaf surface occurs according to the scheme used for the panel door.

If the door block needs to be made with antique effect, apply concentrated stain without coloring enzymes. The solution during impregnation burns the wood, giving it a gray-brown color. Shades are changed by adjusting the concentration of the stain.

With conventional staining with water stain, the door leaf is first moistened. The shutter can not even be removed. To avoid streaks, start painting from the bottom up. The first layer of stain goes along the fibers, the second - across, the third - again along the fibers.

Staining with a water-based stain slightly lifts the wood fibers. After the third layer has dried, the surface of the sash is sanded, dust is removed and repainted once. Alcohol stain does not lift fibers. The need for grinding the canvas is eliminated.

wood look

To beautifully paint a wooden or MDF door, use two opaque enamels on the same basis, but with a light and dark shade. The best combination is yellow, beige or gray with brown. First, the door leaf is painted in a light tone. After drying, the product is treated with soap. A layer of brown paint is applied on top. In the final, the soap is washed off with water until the canvas acquires an old look.

To decorate a wooden or veneered door, the surface is brushed. After the appearance of soft veneer fibers, an imitation of wood texture will emerge. One or two coats of paint are applied to the doors, and after drying they are sanded.

How to varnish a wooden door?

Opaque enamels completely hide the color and texture of wood. To preserve the natural texture, you can paint the door with alkyd, acrylic or other varnish.

Transparent coating is optimal for a new canvas. Stain will help hide defects on old wood. After impregnation of the surface, two layers of transparent varnish are applied in different directions. It takes more time to dry than the enamel requires. And each layer should dry separately.

With the help of a stain, you can paint wooden doors in wenge color, and open them with varnish on top. Sometimes they practice the use of roasting. A gas burner will help to achieve the color of wenge. The wood is burned with an open flame to a dark brown hue. After grinding, even a pine board cannot be distinguished from wenge in texture. The finished canvas is treated with a protective impregnation, and after drying, covered with a transparent varnish.

Painting a wooden door with any paint and varnish material is available at home. It is only necessary to strictly follow the technology.

Wooden doors bring a special charm to the interior, but only if they look decent and the paint is applied carefully.

Cracks in the paintwork, faded shade and peeling paint on the doors can spoil the whole impression of the room.

There is a need to remove the old paint. For this, proven chemical, thermal and mechanical methods are adopted.

We will tell you more about how to remove the old one from a wooden door in the article.

Choosing a way to remove old paint, the question may arise, should it be removed at all? The answer to this question and the choice of coating removal method depends on the following factors:

  • door surface type;
  • coverage condition;
  • type of paint used;
  • adhesion strength of the coating with wood;
  • thickness and number of layers.

The most difficult thing will be to remove the layering of the paintwork, which has good adhesion to the material, and the door itself with a complex surface relief and a mass of decorative elements.


If the door is designed for subsequent painting, then, depending on the condition of the coating, you can do with sanding. This is possible when the paint has been applied neatly in one coat and does not contain peeling or chipping. The old coating is simply processed with sandpaper, and a new layer can be applied.

Old layers of paint, which, under the influence of atmospheric influences and time, have significant defects (chips, cracks, swelling), will have to be removed. It is also necessary to remove too thick a layer of paintwork that has frozen streaks and other results of inaccurate door processing in the past.

It happens that the new door paint is incompatible with the old one. This is also an occasion to completely remove the paint from wooden doors.

Preparatory work

Preliminary preparation of the door requires cleaning from dust and dirt. Also it is necessary to clean off the swollen layers lagging behind the base. If one of the sides is subsequently hidden, for example, with leatherette upholstery, the paint can not be carefully removed - it is enough to clean off the detachment.

Having decided on the nature and scope of work, you should choose tools for removing paintwork.

You will definitely need:

  • rags;
  • putty knife;
  • personal protective equipment (respirator, special goggles, gloves).

For the chemical method, you will need reagents, a bucket of water, a brush for applying a special composition. The mechanical and thermal methods will require a special tool (grinder, drill with nozzles, industrial hair dryer).

How to clean at home?

For removing old paint from wooden doors one of three methods is used:

  1. mechanical impact.
  2. The use of chemicals.
  3. Exposure to high temperatures.

Each option has its strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the specific situation, the appropriate method, appropriate instrument and preparations are selected.

Thermal methods

The thermal method of cleaning a wooden door from paint involves the use of an industrial hair dryer and a spatula.

Work order:

  1. Plug in the hair dryer.
  2. Direct a jet of hot air at the door area.
  3. When heated, the paint will begin to swell and lag behind, and it will be easier to scrape it off with a spatula.
  4. The processing process is repeated on the next zone.

After the entire door is processed, it is necessary to finalize the missing fragments. The surface is cleaned with sandpaper.

If an industrial hair dryer is not available, you can use an iron, after placing foil between the sole of the device and the door.

Advantages of the method:

  • environmental friendliness;
  • not much experience required.

Disadvantages:

  • it is necessary to use a special tool;
  • not always possible to use on difficult surfaces;
  • there is a possibility of damage to the tree if the temperature is set incorrectly;
  • revision may be required.

How to clean the surface mechanically?

The mechanical method involves removing a layer of paint using tools: from a conventional spatula to a drill with nozzles and other special equipment. The use of a power tool speeds up the process, but may not cope with difficult places.

Disadvantages of the method:

  • dust formation;
  • high probability of physical damage to the surface;
  • need a tool;
  • the need for protective equipment.

Advantages:

  • environmental friendliness;
  • having a good tool speeds up the process.

As a suitable paint stripping tool, you can use:

Removing a multi-layer coating using only sandpaper or a spatula is laborious and inefficient.

The best solution to the problem is the choice of a chemical method or the use of a power tool.

How to wipe with chemicals?

Chemical washing is carried out using solvents. The technology is based on the destruction of the structure of the dye itself by chemicals:

  1. The solution is applied to the surface with a brush.
  2. Withstand the required time, which depends on the composition and type of paint.
  3. Using a spatula or scraper, remove the coating swollen under the action of reagents.
  4. Clean off paint residue.

If the instructions for washing indicate that the surface needs additional wiping with white spirit or other solvent, this must be done.

Advantages of the method:

  • the speed of action of the chemical composition;
  • ease of use;
  • does not require excessive effort;
  • no special skills required.

Disadvantages:

  • toxicity of chemicals;
  • an allergic reaction is possible;
  • mandatory availability of personal protective equipment;
  • the need to organize good ventilation in the process of using funds;
  • pungent smell;
  • solvents require special disposal.

Despite the relatively high efficiency, the use of chemicals often requires mechanical surface finishing.

Before using a solvent, it is important to check whether it is suitable for a particular type of paint, and whether the condition of the wood allows this cleaning method to be used.

The selection of a reagent should take into account the type of wood and the condition of the material.. Decayed wood may not withstand intense chemical attack.

How not to damage the door leaf?

The wooden surface has a characteristic texture, is characterized by susceptibility to hard mechanical stress.

When working with natural material, the following points should be taken into account:


In addition to updating the paint, attention should be paid to the condition of the fittings. If necessary, replace or restore metal elements.

Cleaning Tips:

  1. Work must be carried out using personal protective equipment.
  2. Removable parts of wooden fittings, such as door handles, can be conveniently processed separately.
  3. If the door is removed, then before cleaning it is desirable to remove it and lay it horizontally - it will be more convenient to carry out the work.
  4. For heat treatment, open fire should not be used - only hot air.
  5. After washing, the defects of the wooden surface, before coating with new paint, must be eliminated - by sanding, puttying.
  6. Wood should be primed before new painting.
  7. The use of sandpaper for removing paint and sanding can only be recommended for a thin layer of coating on a wooden door.
  8. Grinding work on wood with power tools is recommended to be carried out on the street. This will reduce the likelihood of hitting a foreign object with the working part of the equipment.
  9. When used for washing chemicals, do not use plastic containers - the solvent can “corrode” it.

Haste when removing paint is inappropriate, as it can damage the wood and cause injury.

Related videos

How to remove old paint from a wooden door, video instruction:

Conclusion

Cleaning a wooden door from old paint is a laborious process that takes time and a thoughtful approach to achieve the goal. But even those who do not have experience and special training can cope with the task.