Removing Paint from Window Frames?

[Matt Mc]

I am wanting to remove the paint from window frames so that I can varnish the timber underneath, without the obvious of sanding back each window and door for that matter, is there any companies who specialise in this? If so what sort of rates do they charge and finally is there any problems with doing this?

Help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Dan]

Use a heat gun and a putty knife/scraper.
Should come off fairly easily.
I recently did this for an old double hung, came up beautifully.
Could have then sanded and stained, but had to replace some beading etc.. so will paint it instead.

 

[INVESTRON]

i removed the windows, applied water soluable stripper, scrubbed it off with scrubbibg brush and hose, made em look like new.

 

[chrislaw]

Hi Matt,

I used a mob called:
The Strippers
8 Atherton St Buranda 4102 QLD
(07) 3891 6030
though it was 4 years ago, for some doors, they do windows also and dip them, so you have to reputty them. I can't remember their price but they might even reputty too. They were very friendly so try for a quote.

Chris

 

[multi]

Quickest and easiest:

1. Remove windows

2. Apply paint stripper

3. Wash the paint off with high pressure cleaner (be careful not to break glass by jet.)

 

[Elysium-M]

Whatever you do, don't do what I stupidly did - I tried sanding the paint off. the wider flat surfaces were easy. But the other bits are a nightmare. It took me the better part of 2 weeks of daily sanding to get down to the wood! I wish I knew of this forum back then!!

 

[kylie500]

I used the heat gun and scraper method - it works well and is a lot less messy than paint stripper.

 

[RPI]

I just used the strippers. $15 per window. Great service and works a treat.

Darryl

 

[geoffw]

A professional stripper is always better than an amateur one

I'm no longer up with the technology. Ten years ago, I had to remove paint from a very old house. Because of the age, heat guns and paint strippers had varied effectiveness. I just had to experiment and go with the best option. There was the option of getting doors professionally stripped- but they were generally the easiest bit to do by yourself. It was the fancy skirting board which was the big problem. And even after whatever means of removal- you always had a lot of work for the fine corners.

I would guess that heat guns haven't moved forward much in the time- and of course, there is the hidden cost of electricity bills.

The effectiveness of each method may well depend on what sort of paint was used, and how old it is. My biggest difficulty was with undercoats which were very old (the house was built in 1892).

 

[Matt Mc]

Thanks for everyones replies.

I have contacted The Strippers and will proceed with them.

Just one more question, I am doing every window in the house, should I do it in sections so that I am not leaving the house as a security risk or better to do it all in once?

 

[INVESTRON]

have good insurance and do it all at once, and hope it burns down

 

[chrislaw]

Matt,

I guess it depends on how you feel about security, how many windows you have and whether your highset or lowset.
I would ask The Strippers if you get the same price regardless if you bring in all the windows or say 5 at a time. Then board the window holes with some ply until they come back.
Remember you still have to reputty and paint them so allow some time for this.

By the way, do The Strippers reputty the windows? and if they do, how much extra per window? Just for future reference

Chris

 

[Matt Mc]

The Strippers will be stripping the old paint of the windows (funny that).

Then they have referred me to a Glazier who will reputty them once there done, sent straight from The Strippers. so that works out really well.

Total Cost is $45 per window frame stripped and re puttied.

The total process of not having windows would be about 4-5 days so I may just board up the windows and do it all at once.

Would be a good opportunity to replace hinges and handles at the same time.

Thanks for all your help.

Matt

 

[chrislaw]

Thanks Matt