Wood floors are very beautiful. This is especially true if they’re clean and spotless. However, it seems that they’re a magnet for damages. Even the smallest damage will really affect its overall appeal.
Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners fail to maintain their wood floor properly. This leads to it losing its shine and luster. You’re not alone if this is the case with your floor right now.
Paint is often used to protect hardwood flooring. Polyurethane paint is often used mainly because of its durability. However, this advantage will be a disadvantage once you need to have the paint removed. Homeowners decide to remove the paint if it has lost its function and they want to renovate their flooring with new paint.
In addition, there are homeowners who have bought an old home that has wood flooring. A lot of these old homes require renovation and that includes the flooring.
Fortunately for you, it’s very easy to remove paint from the flooring. This article will walk you through the process on how to remove paint from wood floors.
Preparing the Materials Needed
You need to set yourself up for success and that calls for proper preparation that includes gathering of the needed materials. You need the following materials:
- Paint remover
- Brush
- A bucket full of water
- Detergent
- Spatula
- Protective gear (mask and gloves)
Prep the Area by Cleaning it
This is another important step. It may seem trivial to clean something that you’d remove, but doing so will make the project easier and more successful.
Here’s how you do it:
- Sweep off all dust and debris.
- Wash the area with water.
- Leave it to dry.
Use Paint Remover
There’s a reason why it’s called a paint remover. It removes paint! Once you’re done cleaning the area and once it’s dry, apply paint remover on the area and leave it there for a couple of minutes. You should see the paint crackling. Remove the crackled paint and the natural appearance of the wood floor should show. Once that’s done, use water and detergent to clean the area and then leave it there to dry.
Sand the Flooring
Determine the wood grain pattern and follow it when you’re sanding the floor. This will require a bit of elbow grease. Just keep going until you’re satisfied with the results and the smoothness you’ve achieved.
You can also rent a sander from your local home improvement store, since you probably don’t have access to the same tools as a carpenter. This is basically sandpaper on steroids so be careful. You might end up damaging the floor if you can’t control it.
Make sure that you use a face mask during the sanding process so as not to inhale paint and dust particles.
What if You’re Unable to Remove the Paint?
The steps above should work in a lot of cases especially if the paint is not that old. Fresh paint speckles should be easy to remove. For older speckles, you need to be gradual. Start by using non-abrasive materials and products. Start with lighter chemicals. Work your way from there.
If the paint is fresh, a mixture of hot water and dish soap should do the trick. This solution should soften up the paint to the point that you’ll be able to use a piece of cloth to wash it off. You can use a plastic scraper for best results. Just be careful not to damage the flooring.
You can try using trisodium phosphate which is a mild cleaning agent. Melt a handful in warm water. Dip a pad of Scotch Brite on the solution and then scrub off the specks of paint. You should see results after a few scrubs.
But if they don’t work, you can try the following steps:
- Use a putty knife.
This can work for newer speckles. Just use the putty knife to gently lift paint flecks off of the floor. Done right, it shouldn’t damage the floor.
You can also use a heat gun before using the putty knife. The heat gun will make use of heat in order to soften the paint, allowing you to easily lift it off using a putty knife. However, this can cause damage to the floor so make sure to test it in one corner first and start with the low setting.
Will paint thinner damage hardwood floors? If the paint thinner consists only of mineral spirits, it should not hard the finish of your hardwood floor, but consult with the labeling and the person at the hardware store for more product specific information. Assuming you have done so do the following step.
- Apply paint thinner.
This will require a lot of patience but it should be effective in removing paint from wood floors.
- Use acetone or lacquer thinner.
This should be your last resort because it can lead to dull floors. It’s a good idea to test it first on a small and inconspicuous area to see how it will affect the wooden flooring. If you’re okay with the effect, then you can use it.
Should You Hire a Contractor?
Obviously, this task requires a lot of expertise and patience. Knowing how to remove paint from wood floors is different from actually doing it. This is why when you’re in doubt, just go ahead and hire a contractor.
Doing so will take a lot of things off of your mind. You can just sit back and relax while the pros do their job. They have the right tools and expertise to do it.
If you hire a good contractor, they can also take charge in the restoration of the flooring, and you can easily get free quotes for paint and stain jobs. So get in touch with local flooring contractors today!