Removing Peeling Paint From Wood Siding

The best way to remove paint from lap board siding.

Removing peeling paint from wood siding.

Honestly this stuff is incredible. However even the best routine of cleaning scraping sanding and priming won t stop paint from peeling if water gets into the wood. Scraping often leaves small bits of paint embedded in the wood grain. When the wood goes through a series of wet dry periods the paint and finish are stressed and the paint can crack.

Removing paint with heat. Start with coarse 80 grit sandpaper in a manual hand. You need that much clearance to hold the infrared paint. You can also use heat to remove exterior house paint.

Cracked or peeling paint can occur on cedar siding for a number of reasons according to william feist of the western red cedar lumber association. Wind dissipates heat from the infrared stripper. Sure this sounds like another chore. You can usually get these out using a solvent such as paint thinner lacquer thinner or alcohol.

Just look at the same trim after one coat of the primer and zero scraping or sanding. Most paint dealers blame paint peeling problems on poor prep work. This is a great technique if you want to avoid sanding after scraping paint or you don t want to use chemicals. To use sandpaper or a power sander to remove paint.

Set up scaffolding at least 12 inches away from the side of the house you re stripping. Protect the siding from wind with a tarpaulin. For this reason inspect and repair peeling areas annually. A heat gun or an infrared paint remover will heat up the paint so it peels effortlessly away from the wood.

If necessary remove any knobs hinges or other hardware from the wood being sanded. Thoroughly clean the painted surface with degreasing cleaner dish soap or household cleaner and allow to dry.