Stripping paint v new skirting and door frame?

[rebeccal83]

Hi guys,

So I'm a single mum attempting to decorate my kids room (properly) for the first time.

My question is this there is at least 20 years worth of layers of gloss on the skirting boards and door frames and i want the finish to be nice instead of my usual botch it job *(which would be to add another layer) ... Would it be more cost and time effective to strip the paint either with chemical or sander (and would i be able to do it given my diy repetoire is nil) or am i best paying a pro to fit new skirting and door frame?

any advice would be greatly appreciated I'm really on a shoe string as i would like to get it done for christmas for them even tho the rest of the house resembles steptoes yard!!

Many thanks

Rebecca ... p.s sorry if its long winded and i also hope I've posted in the right place????

 

[Nozzle]

I don't think painting another layer on is a botched job providing you take certain steps. Sand the bobbles off, fill in the low points with good filler (toupret is good), use sugarsoap before you do any painting to degrease and job is a goodun. A good paint job is all in the preparation - and new woodwork will need just as much prep, but will also need the walls repairing and the gaps filling with caulk, the wood "knotting" and also a good dose of primer. That's a lot of work and it's not guaranteed to look hugely better than another "another coat job".

Nozzle

 

[rebeccal83]

thanks Nozzle

would i use good old fashioned elbow grease and sand paper or is it worth investing in a handheld electric sander? ( bearing in mind eventually i am going to have to do every room?)

Rebecca

 

[Nozzle]

That's up to you! Some people get their exercise by paying hundreds to go to a gym - keep your heart racing by going manual, or be lazy like me a buy a sander! I think people on this forum would recommend a belt type over the "mouse" type, though I've used neither type. (I use a dual action sander that's supposed to be for automotive use). Do buy quality abrasives though, I always believed sandpaper was sander paper - but having used Bosch (quality) and Silverline (notoriously poor brand) I can confirm the papers and grits stay intact but the grit on the cheap ones dull very quickly indeed.

Nozzle

 

[rebeccal83]

hahaha i am definately not a manual labour kinda girl!! and i will certainly remember re the sand paper ... wouldn't think i had 2 builders labourers for brothers??? family hey!!

To be honest the most DIY i have done is hanging mirrors and shelves ... I am petrified!!! but in at the deep end

Thanks again

Bex

 

[ntb]

You definitely don't want a belt sander for sanding paintwork. They are far too agressive and cumbersome. A detail sander will be fine - but you will still need to hand sand any intricate bits. Other than removing runs and drips you don't need to go mad - you are just keying the surface of the old paint to help the new paint to adhere to it.

 

[mouk]

use a chemical stripper with a proper scraper and then maybe a heat gun to be sure and then sand it. Should give you a smooth finish.

I have recently just taken out a load of door frames - it is hard work and I have caused damage to plaster on all of the surroinding walls - as well as a major crack to one wall - so it wont be cheaper

same with skirting. particualrly if you have had plaster doen since the skirting went on as the plaster will kind of be on the skirting - was in my case anyway

i am having walls replastered anyway so not a major issue in my case.

 

[DeadBeat]

an electric heat gun and scraper will have most of the paint layers off quickly, then you can sand and paint.

search you tube for an example video of how to do it, watching a few videos should give you a good idea how to proceed