Remove Paint From Hardwood Floors

Found hardwood under the carpet? Chances are good previous owners didn't care about protecting the floor when some painting chores were done. The result became a collage of Paint on old hardwood floors assorted paint drippings and splatters all over the place, not to mention a few spills and paint can rim marks.

What's The Easy Fix To Remove Paint?

It depends on what you're trying to achieve and the scope of the mess. For minor problems mineral spirits and fine steel wool pads can be used along with a plastic scraper. In most cases however a professional should be called in to completely refinish the floor. You may feel you have the talent to handle it yourself but what often happens is many folks doing it themselves tend to work on problem areas too much when using sanding equipment. They often don't realize the damage until it's too late, providing they're trying to bring back a pristine looking floor without the character.

Old Floors

Older floors are likely to have the paint penetrating what finish may be left on the surface. In other words, the paint has reached the pores of the hardwood. Easy

fixes are out of the question. The hardwood will have to be sanded down to a consistent bare wood appearance.

New Hardwood Floors

With newer floors, corrective actions are easier due to the slickness of the finish. In other words, paint can be removed much easier as chances are good nothing has seeped into the pores themselves. Common with floors with higher gloss levels. Conversely ones that exhibit the grain feel and appearance may trap some paint. The light use of a nylon bristle brush (tooth brushes work too) working the area with a minimal amount of water will often eliminate the residue. Wipe dry immediately.

Related Pages:

• Cleaning Hardwood Floors