Our old house has water based paint, then enamel oil, then lead then a shellac or vanish on all doors, skirts and arcitraves. Some door I have had prfessional dipped but my job is the architraves. I am using both a peel and strip and a heat gum wearing PPE. However I wonder before I start to sand if there is an effective or recommended process to clean the "bits" e.g acetone, white sprits - as well should I use Zinser Bin block primer or would standard primer undercoat from Dulux or like be ok. All wood will be in water base semi gloss as a finish coat.
Hello @Aedp1
It's good to hear that you are keeping safety in mind by wearing PPE while using the striper and the heat gun to remove the paint.
Yes, in most cases you should clean and neutralize the surface after using a chemical paint stripper and before applying primer. If you do not remove the residue left behind by the stripper, it can interfere with adhesion and cause problems such as bubbling, peeling, or soft paint later on.
The exact process depends on the type of stripper you used. Water-based or biodegradable strippers are usually cleaned off with water, sometimes along with a mild detergent if the product instructions allow it. Solvent-based strippers often require wiping the surface down with mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, or another recommended solvent. Caustic or lye-based strippers may need to be neutralized with a mild acidic rinse, such as diluted vinegar, followed by a clean water rinse.
After removing the old paint and cleaning the surface, allow it to dry completely. Once dry, lightly sand the surface to remove any remaining residue and to improve primer adhesion. Wipe away the sanding dust, and then you can apply your primer. The most important guide is always the manufacturer’s instructions on the stripper container, since different products use different chemical formulations.
In regard to the https://www.bunnings.com.au/zinsser-3-78l-white-bulls-eye-primer-undercoat-sealer-and-stain-blocker_p1570000 or the https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-1step-prep-primer-sealer-undercoat_p1370234 , both primers are suitable for your project.
Please remember to keep your PPE on while working on your renovation project.
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Eric
Hi @Aedp1,
That looked like quite the restoration project, especially with the number of old coatings layered onto those trims and architraves.
I’d be interested to hear how you ended up going with the stripping and priming process, particularly whether the Zinsser product worked well over the cleaned timber.
Those older homes can be a huge amount of work, but the end result is usually worth it once the original timber starts coming back to life.
If you’re still working through it or ran into any issues along the way, feel free to post an update. Would also be great to see how it’s all coming together.
Mitchell
