Removing Brass Door Numbers?

dreamer1989

I have a white UPVC front door, I want to change the numbers as the current ones are all rusty. They arent nailed in, so im guessing they used glue or sealant. How do I remove the brass numbers witbout damaging the door? Is it literally a case of using a scraper to try and prise it off?

Thanks

globalds

Can you take a photo ?

dreamer1989

Yeah sure, hang on

Norman_Castle

Brass door numbers are unlikely to be rusty.

dreamer1989

i cant get the pic on here unfortunately. its just a usual upvc door, no nail holes holding in the numbers, so i guess they are self adhesive/done with glue or a sealant.

when i say rusfy, they have gone like green and all crappy

Norman_Castle

Oxford Dictionary- Rusfy. Like green and all crappy.

If they are brass you can polish them with metal polish or use very fine sandpaper to clean them.

dreamer1989

no, i want to replace them. and there is no need for sarcasm

globalds

You might find the UPVC under the numbers is much whiter as it will not have weathered
bigger numbers or the same style would be easy to replace ..but otherwise you may get an outline from where the old ones were ?

Also if you don't know what they were stuck down with it might be tricky getting any residue off ..I don't think solvents would be good as it might melt the UPVC ..a really sharp chisel to lift any glue from the door might be better but go careful you don't want to scratch the door

greyteam1959

You could try warming them with a hair dryer & gently prising them with a wide blade screw driver.
If you cant get them off why not masking tape & paint them with an enamel type paint ??

dreamer1989

Could i use boiling hot water, poured carefully on the door numbers?? UPVC does move slightly in the heat.

I would obviously have the door closed before anyone points this out

withabix

Fishing line, backwards and forwards in a sawing action behind the numbers.

White spirit may also soften any adhesives, without any risk of damage to the UPVC.

If there is any discolouration, get some UPVC cleaner to bring the door back to white.