Removing Layer upon layer of gloss paint?

ed110220

I really feel for you because my house is/was similar, though not quite so bad and I don't have arthritis. Removing old paint, filling and sanding the surface and repainting is very time consuming.

After a bit of experience I've found it's only worth doing this to anything of aesthetic value, such as the panel doors. Everything that can be replaced with equivalent new wood like the window reveal linings (144 x 18mm smooth planed timber) and skirting boards (plain stripwood matches originals here satisfactorily if not used in the same room) I've been replacing.

At first it feels wrong and wasteful, but the new wood is fairly inexpensive, paint stripper can be rather costly, and it avoids a lot of time and effort. Plus it avoids any lead risks from late 1940s paints.

FunkyCrunky

-taff wrote: »

have you tried different heat settings? On one lot of paint I found the lower setting worked better, with no attachment on the end and I only had to run the scraper up underneath it to peel all the layers off. Some of the attchements aren't great, but the hand held scraper has been good.

Yes. The lowest dial didn’t work. I cranked up a little at a time until it started to bubble.

It does work, it’s just that I have zero movement in my wrists due to arthritis damage. It gets most up apart from little areas where it’s stubborn. I don’t have enough strength to do it.

Kind of wish I’d never started! :rotfl:

ed110220

FunkyCrunky wrote: »

Yes. The lowest dial didn’t work. I cranked up a little at a time until it started to bubble.

It does work, it’s just that I have zero movement in my wrists due to arthritis damage. It gets most up apart from little areas where it’s stubborn. I don’t have enough strength to do it.

Kind of wish I’d never started! :rotfl:

I'm really sorry to hear it. I suspect though if this is the case, you will find paint stripper similar, just much more messy

davemorton

That banister rail could probably be replaced for £20-30, probably cost more in electric to strip.

Mistral001

The main problem seems to the unsightly stalactites which hang from the handrails. If you are careful not to cut yourself in the process, you could probably remove these with a sharp knife or a small Surform plane.

Jimmy_Neutron

Probably find if you use a scraper the paint will come away easier as it is brittle. You have mentioned "we" can the other person help you?

[Deleted User]

I sympathise, I have a council property, and similar problems (asthma, back and arthritis problems which affect my ability now to do DIY jobs I would do enthusiastically and with ease years ago).

Do you get any extra benefits because of your health problems? I look on these as something that helps with jobs that such health conditions make problematic. If you don't get PIP, its really worth applying for (even with the strong possibility of having to go through the MR/tribunal process as I did, the extra money has transformed my life).

My problem is swirly plaster that has been put on the walls. I can remove paint and wallpaper, it causes pain but its do-able, if slow. I wait until I feel reasonable and don't do it when I have other things I need to do in case I am laid up. I'd advise keep trying different products until you find something that makes removal do-able. Take it slow. Take painkillers. Just do a bit every couple of days if needs be. Borrow a chair if you have to so you can sit and do it. There are pastes that will remove even thick coats of paint easily according to reviews. It is expensive though.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barrettine-PeelAway-Number-7-Poultice-Paint-Removal-System-750g-4kg-or-10kg/392220514373?var=661155019907&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D81efcbbb4a9446399405726d6ab85bb4%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D9%26sd%3D392220514373%26itm%3D661155019907&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

You should find the stalagmites will drop off if you remove the paint surround them. Or just hack them off with a sharp knife as already suggested. I am afraid I have come across paint including fur, and multiple layers like you have. At worst, in the past, I have used a sander to get to a level and just painted over it. But I do normally find its better to remove the paint.
However the suggestions that removing things like skirting boards and replacing them might be worth thinking about.

Just as an added note, it took me three years plus but I finally got a referral to an arthritis specialist. Steroid injections (not the into joint ones) and anti arthritis medication have helped my hands enormously. Not with the more seriously affected areas but I can tolerate doing a lot more with my hands now. I also do exercises to help keep joints moving, and mindfulness is supposed to help you learn to tolerate pain although I have yet to try this (too stressy to do the meditation required lol). CBD oils/products (which you can order online), is also a help, Bracing your wrists might help as well. If your wrists are the problem, brace them and find a method that involves using your arm muscles instead. I do this with my hands although my wrists can get pretty painful too. I use compression gloves.

Basically I look at the problem my body is giving me and try and find solutions that will help me do what I need.

PhilE

FunkyCrunky wrote: »

Thanks Phil. Yep, we have artex too. �� Not planning on tackling this yet. I’ll eventually get a plasterer to skim over it when I can afford to.

I found out the house was built in 1966. So, I’m guessing it’s likely to have the lead paint in it due to age? Pfffft!

I've got artex and lead paint. I'll also be skimming it at some point. Just painted it for now, and it actually looks ok.

Yes, you probably have lead paint layers. We all go through this!

FunkyCrunky

Jimmy_Neutron wrote: »

Probably find if you use a scraper the paint will come away easier as it is brittle. You have mentioned "we" can the other person help you?

Sorry, I say “we” meaning myself and my children. I don’t have anyone that could help me. My Dad would, but I don’t want to ask him as he’s getting older now and cares for my mum.

deannatrois wrote: »

I sympathise, I have a council property, and similar problems (asthma, back and arthritis problems which affect my ability now to do DIY jobs I would do enthusiastically and with ease years ago).

Must be a regular thing with council houses. This too is a council house. I just don’t get why previous occupiers don’t seem to care how it looks or look after the property. Or why the council can’t/won’t make it look presentable to new tenants, and leave it down to me to fix it up.

Do you get any extra benefits because of your health problems? I look on these as something that helps with jobs that such health conditions make problematic. If you don't get PIP, its really worth applying for (even with the strong possibility of having to go through the MR/tribunal process as I did, the extra money has transformed my life).

Yes, I’m already on the correct benefits. I get ESA (care group) and DLA (and child benefit, tax credits for my children). I had to fight for my DLA too and take to tribunal as they didn’t believe I had crippling arthritis and was disabled in my early - mid 20s. I had 2 kids under 5 and a newborn to care for and couldn’t even move off the sofa while ex worked 8am - 6pm. DLA responded to my claim stating I should just sit on the sofa all day soiling myself until ex arrived home from work and he was my carer/support (unpaid). I enlisted help from citizens advice and I won my appeal within minutes of arrival. Had a huge ream of paperwork from hospital, doctors, health visitors, nurses all in my favour. I’m now on lifetime DLA, but with the change to it becoming PIP, I’m getting stressed that I’ll have to fight all over again.

My problem is swirly plaster that has been put on the walls. I can remove paint and wallpaper, it causes pain but its do-able, if slow. I wait until I feel reasonable and don't do it when I have other things I need to do in case I am laid up. I'd advise keep trying different products until you find something that makes removal do-able. Take it slow. Take painkillers. Just do a bit every couple of days if needs be. Borrow a chair if you have to so you can sit and do it. There are pastes that will remove even thick coats of paint easily according to reviews. It is expensive though.

Oh, we have the swirly plaster too. I was taking it slow doing it bit by bit. But it’s just too much for me. I have fused wrists and a few fingers in odd angles and my right hand won’t open fully. It was just too painful.

I’ve just opted to sand down as much as I possibly can and paint. The door (now painted) is looking nice after 1 coat of paint. The doorframe is a little trickier. The sander wouldn’t get all in the nooks so not as nice looking. A lot better than the yellow paint before though.

And as for the paint being yellow, I pulled the carpet up from WC room and the paint colour was actually yellow. It’s not yellowed with age or previous occupiers smoking (if they ever did smoke). There’s yellow paint splashes and marks on the floorboards. Was yellow paint in fashion back then? :rotfl:

You should find the stalagmites will drop off if you remove the paint surround them. Or just hack them off with a sharp knife as already suggested.

I’m going to get the heat gun focused on those stalactites, then try to hack off with a Stanley knife when they’re soft. I’d take the whole stair rail off if it wasn’t artexed into the wall. It’s going to pull all the wall apart to remove, so I’m just going to paint it without stripping until I can afford to get a plasterer in. Then I’ll be able to remove and replace.

You can see how it’s going to pull the wall artex/plaster by how it’s been attached to the wall first then artexed over...

Just as an added note, it took me three years plus but I finally got a referral to an arthritis specialist. Steroid injections (not the into joint ones) and anti arthritis medication have helped my hands enormously. Not with the more seriously affected areas but I can tolerate doing a lot more with my hands now. I also do exercises to help keep joints moving

Me too. I’ve had them all before too - steroid injections into the joint, 4 month long courses of oral steroids, but they’re only a quick fix. And now new evidence suggests it can cause more problems (cataracts, etc.) I don’t want to rely on steroids. Unfortunately, I’ve had this inflammatory arthritis since I was 13. I’m now 37 and have widespread osteoarthritis caused by the damage from the progression of the arthritis. I’m also on Methotrexate and Enbrel (biologic injection) to slow the progression and 2 opiate painkillers and an anti-inflammatory. It’d be easier to list where I don’t have arthritis, than list affected joints. Both my wrists are fused and cannot flex, but since were talking about hands...

This is my right hand (I’m right handed):


My left hand:
.

It’s taken 24 years, but I’ve finally been referred to a hand surgeon to fuse completely my wrists, and fix fingers/thumb to correct angle (aka. break and straighten).

Basically I look at the problem my body is giving me and try and find solutions that will help me do what I need.

My arthritis is auto-immune, so my immune system is over active and attacking itself. I can’t fix this without medication, and the medication reduces my immune system to try to slow the progression. It can only be slowed down. There’s no cure. I’ve also tried CBD. At best, it takes the tiniest edge from the pain. Not enough to remove painkillers from my life though. I’ve tried all the diets too. Nothing seems to help.

PhilE wrote: »

I've got artex and lead paint. I'll also be skimming it at some point. Just painted it for now, and it actually looks ok.

Yes, you probably have lead paint layers. We all go through this!

Thats what I ended up doing mainly. I tried to sand it down and didn’t get through much, so gave up and painted. Looking a lot better now it’s white. I used a silk wood paint too. Logic was that gloss would show the lumps and bumps, so less shiny paint.



Isn’t it odd how the yellow paint on the door makes the walls look purple? In the ‘after’ photo, the walls are true to colour.

I think I’ll go the easy route for now and just paint to make it look more presentable. When I’m in a better situation financially, at least I know what’s lurking under everything and can find a tradesman who can sort it room by room.

Thanks everyone for your help and support.

FunkyCrunky

I know it’s been a while, but finally finished (sort of) the WC room. Had to do a little bit at a time.

The difference is amazing. Looks lovely now. Especially as I did on the cheap - same wallpaper, carpet, toilet. The blinds, flowers, accessories, etc. are all new.

Really pleased. Thank you everyone that commented for your help.







I just need to fill in holes from assessability rails, touch up paint after, and replace the tiles on the windowsills.