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Painting your existing furniture can be an excellent way to provide a bit of visual style and to emphasise its unique personality. However, one of the main issues with any painting project involves potential environmental concerns.

Many formulations contain specific chemicals that can cause a considerable amount of damage if they are exposed to the water supply or even when left to air dry.

This is when the benefits of eco-friendly substitutes may be worth a closer look.

Let’s examine the principle behind ecologically friendly paints before taking a look at some top brands.

What are Eco-Friendly Paints?

Also known as natural paints, these formulations are associated with extremely low VOC (volatile organic compound) levels. Volatile organic compounds are substances that will break down within a relatively short period of time; releasing potentially hazardous substances into the environment. This is why some paints have an extremely pungent odour.

Eco-friendly variants contain little to no VOCs. Not only are thy safer to work with from a health perspective, but some such as milk-based varieties have little to no smell when being applied.

This is great if you happen to be working indoors. The professionals at Premium Door Stripping will often utilise ecologically friendly stripping agents due to the simple fact that they will not adversely impact the environment. So, what are some of the options at your disposal?

A Quick Look at Some Top Brands

There are a host of options at your disposal and naturally, the exact type of paint will be based upon the intended style of the furniture.

However, a handful of brands provide some interesting alternatives. These include:

• Auro
• Biofa
• earthBorn
• Ecos
• Algaia

Some of these firms will offer low-VOC paint formulations while others have done away with volatile organic compounds entirely. The best way to learn more is to navigate to the official website in question and to take a look at their product lists. Not only are eco-friendly paints easy to work with, but they can spruce up a piece of furniture in no time at all.

What is the Importance of Paint Stripping?

Every once in a while, you may want to give your home or office space a new look. A crucial part of a renovation is applying fresh paint on walls, probably a different colour. However, applying new paint over old paint could result in issues. This, therefore, means that stripping the original paint is also a crucial aspect of renovation.

The Benefits of Paint Stripping

Stripping paint helps to avoid issues that arise from painting over old paint, like:

• Chipping
• Peeling
• Bubbling

The Technique of Stripping Paint

In most cases, stripping paint involves the use of chemicals. Such chemicals can be harmful when breathed in or when they come into contact with the skin. Using the right technique would help to keep the negative aspects of strip painting minimal.

The first step to stripping painting is finding the right paint stripper. Different paint stripping mechanisms have varying strengths and consistencies. Lye-based paint strippers are the strongest in the market. However, for vertical surfaces, gelled strippers would work best, while for items like furniture, the pourable ones would be ideal. Getting professional help would be the wise thing to do when trying to find the best stripper for your purposes.

Once you have your appropriate stripping chemical, the next step would be to apply the stripper on the walls and other surfaces. As you continue to use the compound, you should start to see the paint bubbling. This is a clear indication that the paint stripper is efficient. Leave the surface unbothered for at least ten minutes before proceeding to the next step.

Once the ten minutes or so have elapsed, you can now proceed to scrape off the paint. A paint scraper or a putty knife would do the trick. In case there is some stubborn paint left on your surface, you can apply a fresh coat of the paint stripper then scrape it off.

Hire the Professionals

While you can strip paint from surfaces on your own, the task is not one to look forward to, and most of the time, it is more complicated than it seems. It is, therefore, wise to hire a professional firm or individual to do the work. Hiring a professional, like Premium Door Stripping, would also help you save time and in some cases, money. Premium Door Stripping offers a range of paint stripping services for furniture and doors, among other surfaces and materials at affordable costs.

When thinking of removing paint from a surface, you could be tempted to sandblast, wire brush or caustic solutions. These methods would work on certain surfaces, but they could seriously damage wood and leave it exposed to the elements. Because wood stripping is delicate, it requires a lot of knowledge.

Wood Stripping

Some woods strip better than others. For instance, interior doors have some parts that could be veneer while the rest of the components may be solid wood. In such cases, the stripping must be done in a way that the door will not fall apart. Depending on the number of layers the furniture has, a repeat stripping process may be required.

At Premium Door Stripping, we professionally strip internal and external doors, tables, beds and tables, among others.

Although veneer and plywood stripping is not recommended because they have a low thickness, we can still strip the paint out.

Notice that this will require an extra keen eye to ensure that damage is not caused. We have non-caustic elements that strip wood gently without causing damage to it.

What is Non-Caustic Stripping Best For

With our expertise, we are careful to use the right stripping method on each type of wood. Non-caustic is best used on woods such as oak. Oak is light coloured and can turn into a dull grey when stripped with caustic soda.

Non-caustic does not have toxic residue, meaning it does not leave the surface damaged after paint removal.

For beech wood, non-caustic stripping is the best method. It is a dry hardwood that does not tolerate dampness. Dampness puts it at risk of warping. Walnut is the other wood that will require non-caustic removal. This is because it tends to discolour quickly and crack when stripped with caustic soda.

Why a Professional is Needed

Professionals are trained and have experience with wood stripping techniques, meaning they can complete the job quickly and thoroughly. They are also aware of what chemical elements work and which ones don’t.

Also, chemicals used in wood stripping are hazardous and must be used as directed. They can harm the skin, lungs and eyes and produce toxic fumes.

They also must be cleaned off properly before new paint occurs. Our expert strippers handle each project with expertise.

The cost of the job depends on the type and amount of paint to be removed, the quality of the surface and whether refurbishing will be needed.

While there are many guidelines on how to strip furniture, if yours is of high-quality or is an antique, trust the job to a professional.

While finishing wood and wood products may sound relatively easy but is more often than not a tasking activity especially for beginners. Making any mistakes can be outright annoying and costly too and sometimes it can pose serious health concerns.

Mistakes in DIY wood projects are common thus it is important that you understand some of the few mistakes that you can avoid when finishing wood and its products. Here are some mistakes to avoid.

1 Choosing to manufacturer instructions

While you might have done some similar projects before and you basically know what to do, it is important to read the manufacturer’s instructions before going ahead to finish your project.

The manufacturer includes these instructions to help you know what products to use based on the chemicals and ingredients they used during production.

2 Not thoroughly furniture stripping

If our DIY project requires a bit of stripping, go ahead and do thorough furniture stripping. It is not uncommon to find homeowners stripping the old paint and then just partially finishing it.

This often leads to faded spots and botches. Make use of sandpaper or sander and ensure you sand it down to the bare wood first before anything else while watching out for any spots.

3 Not properly sanding your wood

Sanding is an important first step in preparing your wood for finishing. Analyse the type of wood you have to help you choose the grit of sandpaper you need for that project.

Coarse sandpaper on softwood is not advisable and so is using smooth sandpaper on coarse wood. Have the right sandpaper for your wood and sand your wood a minimum of two times while removing grit in between the sanding as you build up.

4 Failing to rub out

Not rubbing out your wood can possibly lead to a series of errors, unevenness and defects that with every coast of applied only leads to thick and bumpy coat that feels and looks ‘plasticky’.

Just learn to apply a few extra coats to your wood and sand it out with the right grit of sandpaper to enable you to remove any dust or irregularities. Finish the rubbing by a fine grit sandpaper the entire piece leaving a pleasantly done project.

5 Using incompatible products

If you don’t understand the type of products suitable for you project, it is necessary that you seek professional advice before you make some expensive mistakes.

For instance, dealing with oily tropical hardwoods can be quite challenging because of the antioxidants contained in the wood thus find a product that has a similar base solvent. Failing to do so will make your wood appear tacky and wet.

Whether you are planning a home upgrade or you are dealing with a large commercial project, there are certain times when you might be required to remove the existing paint from one or more walls.

While some believe this to represent a labour-intensive project, the fact of the matter is that appreciating the steps taken by professionals will enable you to maximise your efforts.

Let us, therefore, examine some expert recommendations in order to provide a bit more clarity.

Choosing the Right Paint Stripper

The best way to remove paint without damaging the underlying wall is to employ the best paint stripper for the task at hand. Strippers generally fall into two categories:

• Solvents and mineral spirits
• Caustic mixtures

In the majority of cases, solvents will do the trick without causing the wall itself any damage.

However, you might need to utilise caustic paint strippers when dealing with multiple layers of paint (these can be more stubborn to address with solvents alone).

Be sure to read the user instructions as well as the indications of each category in order to understand which is the most logical option.

Dealing with Wooden Elements

There are times when you might also be required to remove paint from wooden elements associated with the wall (such as crown and chair mouldings).

In these instances, appreciating the different types of wood and their qualities is important. Harder woods such as oak and walnut tend to stand up to mechanical scraping actions.

However, soft materials including pine and cypress should be handled with care.

What Tools Will You Need?

A standard six-inch putty knife or paint scraper will be necessary along with a handful of rags to soak up any excess stripping fluid.

Drop cloths could also be a good idea in order to protect floors and nearby furniture.

If you happen to be dealing with a very large area or when working at heights, it is always wise to speak with the team at Premium Door Stripping.

We provide a variety of reliable services and we are capable of handling even the most daunting of tasks.

There are several ways to remove paint from metal. Some involve mechanical methods (such as a rotary disc sander) while others may employ harsh chemicals including acetone and alcohol.

However, certain metals require a more delicate approach. This is often encountered with copper due to its relative softness when compared to iron and steel.

So, how can you effectively deal with stubborn layers of paint without damaging the underlying surface?

Let’s take a look at the step-by-step guide found immediately below in order to fully understand the process.

Initial Preparation

It is first important to loosen the paint from the surface as much as possible. The good news is that this can normally be accomplished by placing a few drops of olive oil over the affected area. Let this oil sit for a few minutes before beginning the removal process.

The Use of a Putty Knife

You will then need to purchase a paint stripper for cars. This kit normally contains a plastic putty knife that can be used upon softer materials such as copper.

It is still wise to cover the leading edge of the putty knife with a soft rag before scraping. This will further help to minimise any unintentional damage to the underlying copper.

Mineral Spirits

If you come across paint that is more difficult to remove (such as paint that is located within cracks or crevasses), use a small amount of mineral spirits on the affected area.

Allow these spirits to sit for a few moments before dislodging the paint with a knife. This process might need to be repeated when dealing with multiple paint layers.

If you are still uncertain about the methods outlined above or if you happen to be tackling a more challenging project, it is best to contact the team at Premium Door Stripping.

Our technicians boast a great deal of expertise when dealing with copper, wood, aluminium, and countless other surfaces. This will ensure quality results within a fraction of the time that might otherwise be required.

Removing paint from different surfaces will often require the use of unique methods. One example is you happen to need to strip paint from a metallic surface. Unlike wood, this task can be a bit more intensive.

This is why appreciating some of the options at your disposal is always a good idea. Let’s take a look at two processes that are often employed by professionals so that you can make the most appropriate decision.

Mechanical Techniques

There are times when a rotary disc sander can help you remove spray paint from metallic surfaces. However, the normal sanding disc will need to be replaced with a wire brush mechanism.

If you are working on a more intricate surface, then the use of this tool is often not practical. Let’s say that your goal is to strip paint from metal fencing. This means that it will be impossible for you to employ larger equipment in order to do so successfully.

For projects such as radiator paint stripping, then you will need to use small tools. This includes items such as hand-held wire brushes, grinding stones and even special scouring pads.

When working on car paint stripping, there are times where it can be difficult for you to remove the top layer of metal finishings by using other types of equipment because they lack precision control.

Chemical Alternatives

In order to access hard-to-reach areas, it could be prudent to use acetone. This is a liquid paint and varnish remover which should be able to deal with most materials.

Acetone is a chemical solvent that is available from a number of retail outlets. This includes hardware stores and supermarkets as well as online shops.

Acetone can be used to remove paint from some types of metal surfaces, although it may not work on all coatings. It is worth mentioning that acetone fumes are dangerous.

Therefore, this should be used in a well-ventilated area. It is also best to wear gloves when working with acetone and it’s advisable not to use the substance on painted or varnished surfaces as these can become damaged through contact with this type of chemical solvent.

To remove spray paint from metal with this chemical, place the object in a bucket containing the acetone and leave it for approximately an hour. The item should then be removed to check whether all the paint has been softened sufficiently so that it will come off easily with some gentle rubbing using steel wool or fine wire wool.

If you are still having issues in removing the paint, then contact a professional paint stripping company like Premium Door Stripping who deal with this task on a day to day basis and will be able to easily remove the paint for you.

If you’re still having trouble removing the paint, then contact a professional stripping company like Premium Door Stripping who deal with this task on daily basis and can easily get rid of it for you.

There are times when you may wish to provide a section of wood (such as a door or a window frame) with an extra level of protection and style.

Lacquer can be an excellent option to consider due to the fact that it is waterproof and will help to keep the underlying surface intact. Still, there are a few factors to take into account in order to successfully complete such a project.

Oil or Latex Paint?

It is first critical to point out that lacquer cannot be placed over oil-based paints; it will not adhere properly. Only latex-based paints are suitable for such a project. If oil paint is present, you have two options:

• Strip the paint away to expose the bare wood.
• Prime the oil paint so that it can be painted with a top coat of latex. Lacquer can then be applied.

If you suspect that there might also be varnish present, be sure to purchase the best varnisher for wood. The lacquer can then be applied with ease.

The Finish of the Paint to be Lacquered

Assuming that you are planning to lacquer latex-based paint, determine whether its surface has a sheen (such as glossy or semi-gloss formulations). If this is the case, the surface will need to be lightly scuffed with sandpaper.

The elasticising agents will otherwise cause the subsequent coat of lacquer to adhere unevenly; leading to an alligator-like texture.

The Proper Application Techniques

Use a brush that is specifically designed for lacquer (most of these are equipped with synthetic bristles). Apply the lacquer in even strokes to ensure a uniform coating.

Try not to stop midway, as this will cause lap marks when the surface dries. Most wood items will require only a single coat and the majority of lacquers will be required to dry for at least 24 hours before they can be handled again.

To learn about other unique DIY tips, be sure to speak with a specialist at Premium Door Stripping.

While there is no doubt that vintage doors are known for their character as well as their unique aesthetic beauty, they can also become victims to the elements if not properly maintained.

This is why the concept of weatherproofing is important. What are some basics steps to take so that your door will be protected from the outside weather?

Insulation and Caulking

You will first need to remove the trim around the top and sides of the door frame. Purchase a can of spray foam.

Insert the nozzle into any visible gaps and fill them with the foam. As this foam expands, some may have to be shaved away before reattaching the peripheral trim.

You may also wish to caulk the sides of the trim in place (on both the interior and exterior sides). Be sure that this caulk is designed for exterior use. If you notice any cracks on the surface of the door (such as within the inlays), these can also be caulked.

In the event that the door is bare wood, try to encounter a caulking agent that closely matches the original colour and be sure to wipe away any excess before it dries.

Replacing Weatherstripping

In the event that old weatherstripping is present, pry it away with a screwdriver or cut it away with a utility knife.

Replace this weatherstripping with a more recent version; cutting each section to the appropriate length before tacking it to the door frame.

Before these strips are permanently in place, close the door to ensure a tight fit and that no areas are overlapping.

Door Sweeps

Some exterior doors have sweep that is found along the bottom portion. If you notice that the sweep has become damaged, it can simply be removed and replaced. However, you may need to drill new holes in order to keep it firmly in place.

For more maintenance advice or to learn about options when restoring the finish of antique doors, please take a few moments to contact Premium Door Stripping. You will be amazed with the options at your disposal.