A Guide to Paint Stripping

Whether re-painting walls, doors or furniture, you’ll need to strip the old paint and sand the surface first to ensure a long-lasting finish. Painting straight over a painted surface without the correct preparation can lead to problems like bubbling, peeling and cracking, making your fresh paintwork look shoddy.

Our guide to paint stripping includes paint removal tips for various materials and advice on applying fresh paint after stripping.

Essential paint stripping tools

Before you begin, ensure you have the correct PPE. Since paint strippers contain harsh chemicals, you’ll want to protect yourself with disposable overalls, shoe covers, gloves, goggles and a respirator mask. You might also want to protect floors or furniture with dustsheets.

For a professional finish, make sure to have these tools and products handy:

• Protective sheeting to cover floors

• Brushes or rollers (depending on the application guidance for your removal product)

• Paint stripper or varnish remover

• Paint scraper

• Scrubbing brush

• Cloths

• Fine-grit sandpaper

Our top paint removal tips

Discover our top paint removal tips for various surfaces, including wood, metal and brickwork, to achieve a professional finish on any job. Each surface requires a different treatment, so it’s essential to choose the right tools and products from the start.

At Dulux Decorator Centre, we stock a wide range of painting and decorating accessories for paint stripping, so you can find everything you need in one place.

How to strip paint off wood

Both interior and exterior wood can be stripped, provided you use the right product for the surface you’re working on. Barretine Peelaway 7 is a great choice for stripping paint from wood and is available at Dulux Decorator Centre.

Follow these steps to remove old paint from your woodwork:

• Apply a layer of paint stripper to the wooden surface using an old paintbrush.

• Leave the product to work into the wood for the time specified by the manufacturer.

• Use a scraper to remove the softened paint.

• Repeat on any stubborn areas (or sand the remaining paint spots away).

Depending on the paint stripper you use, you may need to wipe down the treated area before re-decorating to remove any chemical residue.

How to strip paint off brickwork

Exterior paintwork can be removed from brick with specialist paint strippers, like Barrettine Peelaway 1.

Always check the label to ensure your chosen product is suitable for brickwork, then follow these steps:

• Apply the paint stripper to your brickwork with an old paintbrush.

• Leave the product to work into the brick for the time specified by the manufacturer.

• Use a scraper to remove the softened paint.

• Repeat on any stubborn areas.

• Wipe down the brickwork with white vinegar to remove any paint residue.

How to strip paint from metal

To remove paint from metal, choose a specialist metal paint stripper, like Blackfriar Paint and Varnish Remover.

Then follow these steps:

• Apply paint stripper to the metal surface using a paintbrush.

• Leave the product to work into the wood for the time specified by the manufacturer (if you’re removing several layers of paint, wrap cling film around the area to insulate the product, speeding up the process).

• Use a scraper to remove the paint when it starts bubbling or peeling.

• Repeat the process for any stubborn areas.

Applying fresh paint

Once the old paint is removed, you can start re-decorating! The process will differ depending on the surface you’re painting and the paint stripper you’ve used. You may need to wash, sand or prime the area first.