Chemical Stripping
Orkney Painting + Decorating are versed in chemical paint stripping, which is a process where a chemical is applied to the existing paint to disengage the hardeners and chemically alter the make-up of the existing paint to where it can be removed easily.
The chemical stripping process is designed to remove all existing and historical coatings and return the surface to bare original timber throughout. This then makes it ready for a brand-new paint coating system. Any substrates that are chemically stripped should always be reprimed with alkyd-based primer as this is the best-recommended product to counteract any potential stripping residues remaining.
Is Chemical Stripping Required?
Chemical stripping is a very labour-intensive process and can sometimes take up to 3-4 layers of chemical stripping agent, depending on the surface age and number of times it has been repainted in the past.
Orkney Painting + Decorating recommend chemical stripping if there are more than six patches of bare timber (where paint has come off), cracking, crazing, or bubbling found within a one-square-metre area. This usually happens because the original 50 – 60-year-old primer coat fails due to unavoidable surface tension of new paint drying.
Lead Paint Management System
If lead is found in the paint, then a comprehensive lead management system will be put in place. Lead-based chemical stripping should always be wet-stripped for the safety of the household, neighbours, pets, plants, etc. If the paint does not need to be chemically stripped, then dry sanding/prep of surfaces will be managed with a lead management system.
Our staff will wear full-cover overall suits including head cover, appropriate chemical-resistant gloves taped to the outside of the suits, respirators with correct filters, safety glasses and other PPE.
A slow rate of sanding must be done by hand, and an appropriate vacuum attachment must be attached to capture potentially powdered lead during the sanding phase.
If chemical stripping is to occur, then our staff need to wear the same PPE gear as listed above, plus all stripping residue and waste must be collected at the end of each day, double-bagged and labelled as lead waste for appropriate disposal at Wellington tips.
Secondary to this, a wash station for boots can be installed to ensure lead waste is not tracked through the neighbourhood and staff can disinfect their boots before going in/out of the site.
