Comments on: Strip Ease: How to Remove Paint, Safely

By: Kimotee

Kimotee — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:41:19 +0000

Just tried the Zinsser soy based stripper on an exterior entry deck painted with Valspar porch/deck paint. Left the stripper on for over an hour, and scraped and scraped and scraped, and only got off one thin layer off. I can’t possibly recommend it. I’ve used another enviro-friendly product available in New England in 2003-2004, but can’t find it anymore. It WORKED, really well on a large deck…..

By: Nora

Nora — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:12:28 +0000

I have a question I hope someone may be able to help me with. I have recently moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina and rented a cute apartment that had just been renovated. To my dismay the first time I spent a couple of hours in it taking measurements and imagining where the furniture would go, both me and my young daughter starting coughing and ended up with irritated throats and chests for at least 24 hours afterwards. I realized that there was a double source of indoor pollution: the floors had been refinished with non water based finish and all the walls had been painted with oil based enamel. I have signed a lease for two years which will be impossble to cancel.

I assume I could deal with the vapors from the floors by having them refinished with an imported water based formula (Bona brand) that is available in this market which apparently is less toxic, but I am not sure how to deal with the walls. I have read that oil based paints can emit VOCs for over a year, even after the odor is gone. Any suggestions? Would having the walls sanded and repainted with a water based latex paint help? Would the sanding process remove the chemicals that are now polluting the air in this apartment so badly? Any othyer ideas? I would certainly appreciate any expert advice!!

By: Luanne Bradley

Luanne Bradley — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:36:14 +0000

Also, Zinsser has a variety of good products (this was just one) for removing wall paints, oil-based, milk paints, and deglossers to better prep for new, fresh paint.

By: Luanne Bradley

Luanne Bradley — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:33:04 +0000

Too much paint build up on walls is not good, and we have painted many shades at our home. To get the cleanest after too much build up, it is recommended by most high-end interior painters to start new and sand. The stripping is best for lead paints and tremendous build up and for wood surfaces, furniture, etc.

By: Jalet

Jalet — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:34:57 +0000

I have worked in the paint business for over 30 years. I have sold, mixed, matched, given council, and always looked for, pursued and tried cutting edge products. I am well acquainted with this product and as truly wonderful as it may be, I must ask what seems an obvious question. “Why are you stripping paint off the walls for heavens sake?” Did I miss the point? This is a very costly and time consuming thing on such a large scale. Not to mention that when finished stripping, you have to sand, prime and repaint when you are done. Why in the world would you recommend stripping over repainting a more favorable color. I have always given my customers a confidence boost by reminding them….”It is only paint, we can always repaint if you hate it.” This product wasn’t intended for such large area removal unless you are trying to strip a wall of painted brick or wood or the like. An unfortunate paint chip color gone bad on the wall should be treated with a better color solution, Not a stripper. It seems to me like recommending growing a lemon tree if you want to make lemonade. You can do it that way…but why would you? I love your articles and website. I am sorry on this rare occasion I can’t see your point of view.

By: Mahala

Mahala — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:05:54 +0000

Grat timing on article as I’m wanting to try a bold color on my walls and afraid of it being Sara’s Kool Aid Turquoise.

1 question though, none of these products specifically said it was for walls. Even the Zinsser product says wood, metal and vinyl. Is this the product you recommned?

By: Sara Ost

Sara Ost — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:06:47 +0000

It’s not just 10-year-olds. I had a fateful experience with Tiffany Blue that really was more accurately described as Kool Aid Turquoise one year. I loved it and loved it and loved it and then one day I woke up and was appalled.