Stripping Paint

We all know that paint on old houses probably contains lead. Windows are often difficult to open or have been painted shut. We had a lecture on safely removing paint in the course CT-17 Material Science: Glass. I have taken this information and also tips from Bill's window Restoration Workshop and experimented on windows from my own house to fully develop a safe way to remove paint.

The most important thing to remember is that lead paint is most dangerous in its dry, air born, dusty form. So keep it wet. How? With steam. Jiffy Steamer makes a professional steamer that holds more water than the personal steamers so that you don't have to refill as often. As your drycleaner knows, steam is the gentlest, safest, most efficient method to remove wrinkles from fabrics. Steam also softens paint and glazing putty and swells the wood so that paint and putty can easily and safely be removed from wood with a putty knife or scraper.

Steam box made with inch and a half rigid insulation.

Custom shaped scrapers can be ground to match the profile of the window. With a heat gun leading the way paint comes off in a soft pliable form and the shape of the profile is unaltered. Whatever paint didn't come off after steaming can be removed safely with a heat gun. HEPA filters are suggested when working around suspicious materials.

Lead paint is not something to take lightly. Precautions such as wearing a Tyvek suit, nitril gloves and a HEPA filter particle mask is highly recommended. Disposal of hazardous materials is important, double bag the waste and deliver it to you local hazardous waste dumping sight. In Eureka, CA there is a 15 gallon limit per visit, open on Friday and Saturday 9 am to 1 pm.