Home > Blog > Questions & Answers > Painting wood trim outside that is peeling. Is there a way to take off the paint without burning it off?

Painting wood trim outside that is peeling. Is there a way to take off the paint without burning it off?

Lynne

I’m painting my exterior trim and it is peeling. Is there a way to take off the paint without burning it off? I’m looking for an easy way to get this done.

2 Responses

crowderpainting says:

July 19, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Personally, I only use heat on difficult to sand trim. Scraping and sanding is a better method to remove loose paint and produce a nice foundation for the primer and paint. Using heat can and will remove multiple layers of paint and is a good alternative for hard to sand trim, i.e. – fancy trim on Victorian style homes.

If you have to use heat use a heat gun not a propane torch. A heat gun is a very powerful "hair dryer" that doesn't use an open flame. It is safer than a torch. Using a heat gun can be a bit tricky. It has the ability to burn the paint and catch the wood on fire. Plus, using a heat gun gives off fumes.

Reply
crowderpainting says:

July 19, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Personally, I only use heat on difficult to sand trim. Scraping and sanding is a better method to remove loose paint and produce a nice foundation for the primer and paint. Using heat can and will remove multiple layers of paint and is a good alternative for hard to sand trim, i.e. – fancy trim on Victorian style homes.

If you have to use heat use a heat gun not a propane torch. A heat gun is a very powerful "hair dryer" that doesn't use an open flame. It is safer than a torch. Using a heat gun can be a bit tricky. It has the ability to burn the paint and catch the wood on fire. Plus, using a heat gun gives off fumes.

Reply