Removing paint from a house exterior is the primary and most dreaded activity in the whole process of giving your house a fresh coat of paint.
If you skip the important step of stripping off the old paint, the new coat is likely to bubble, chip and peel off much more quickly.
Top coats of paint require primer and undercoats attached to the siding correctly for the best results.
There are lots of tools and methods that will lend you a hand throughout the paint removal job.
It’s important to note that some of these methods involve chemical stripping and dust which can be hazardous to your health as well as the environment.
Fortunately, there are a few environmentally friendly exterior house paint removal alternatives that are more kind to the environment and your body whilst also offering you real time-savings.
Soy gel paint strippers
Even if your house was last painted before 1978 when lead-based paints were used, soy gel paint removals work effectively to strip off the paint from your house sidings, walls, gable, sidewalk and patios.
It’s a great non-toxic paint remover, is low in fume emission and makes a great replacement to harmful chemical paint strippers.
A totally organic product, it can be applied using a regular paint brush and can be left for hours without evaporating while you get other tasks completed.
Dustless blasting
Dustless blasting is the most environmental-friendly and the fastest alternative to all other paint stripping methods.
This method uses recycled glass which is mixed in water to remove the paint, leaving behind a natural and paint-ready surface only. It’s like dusting with a wet rag.
It won’t spread dust into the air and does not kill the environment.
It’s a greener, faster and cleaner method of removing house exterior paint compared to traditional soda and sandblasting methods.
Dustless blasting does not cause any heat on the surface and water reduces friction, thus solving the warping problem.
Infrared heat paint removal method
If you are looking for a cheaper, neater, safer and environmentally-friendly exterior house paint removal method, infrared paint removal technique is also a great choice.
This is the modern method of removing paint from wooden surfaces. It makes a great alternative to mechanical and chemical paint stripping techniques.
Infrared rays penetrate and warm the substrate below the paint, thus loosening the paint’s grip and making it easy to scrape off.
This method does not require any sanding or chemicals. It quickly loosens all types of paint and varnish without spreading dust around. Properly used, infrared heat appliances leave behind a porous surface with a tooth to grip onto the primer and new paint for longer.
No methylene chloride paint removers
Mark it! Methylene Chloride is a deadly chemical that’s found in almost all paint removing products.
It also makes you feel lightheaded, creates fatigue and can leave you with chemical burns in addition to more serious side effects after extensive exposure.
Make sure you use Methylene Chloride free and eco-friendly exterior house paint removal products to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals.
Although you don’t technically need to wear gloves, taking the precaution is wise.
Hand scraping
If you have enough time, nothing is as green as the trusty hand scraping paint removal technique. It’s a slow method so maybe not a great choice to strip off paints from large areas.
It’s better used in conjunction with other tools to remove the already loose and flaking paint.
Make sure you do not rub the surface too hard as it may cause over-scraping, and remember to replace the blade whenever required.
Steam pressure washer
A steam pressure washer heats water to over 200 degree and causes water to vaporise, melt and remove all stubborn substances including old paint from your house exterior. It’s also a great method to remove paint from concrete.
Steam pressure washers are designed to be used for complex paint removal applications. Since it does not involve any chemical or sand application, it makes another great environmentally friendly exterior house paint removal alternative to chemical stripping.
It combines the power of steam with the strength of pressure to efficiently melt away old paint leaving behind a smooth surface for new coating.
You also get the added benefit of having your surfaces sterilised at the same time due to the high water temperature used.
Even if protecting the environment isn’t on your list of priorities be sure to choose a paint removal option that is safe for you and will help you get that dreaded job done faster.
A freshly painted home is just on the horizon.
Author bio:
Sam Morgan is the owner of Dustless Blasting Australia. He has been blasting paint, rust and grease off pretty much every surface for almost five years now. If you want to restore an old, weathered home back to its natural timber look or you have a muscle car that needs to be blasted back to bare metal, Sam is your guy.
