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Restoring a Piece of History: Removing Millennial Grey paint

  • Jul 19, 2024
  • 5 min read

Updated: Sep 3, 2024

If you’ve ever tackled a home renovation project, you know that sometimes, you encounter surprises that can either thrill or challenge you. In my journey of restoring J.A. Thompson’s historic carriage house, one of the most unexpected and daunting tasks has been dealing with millennial grey paint that has covered every surface of the house.



A Paint Job Gone Awry


When I first laid eyes on the carriage house, I was struck by its beauty and the craftsmanship that had been preserved over the years. However, it didn’t take long to notice that a layer of millennial grey latex paint had been applied over the original oil-based paint. This combination has led to peeling and flaking everywhere, obscuring the building’s true character. While grey might be a trendy choice for modern aesthetics, it was not quite in keeping with the historic charm I wanted to restore.


Uncovering the True Colors


The carriage house, built in the early 20th century, likely had a very different color scheme when it was first constructed. Historical research and a bit of detective work revealed that the original colors were more muted and sophisticated, reflecting the tastes of the 1930s. Even though the carriage house might not have been painted at all, I wanted to restore it to a look that more accurately represented its era.


The Removal Process


Removing millennial grey paint is no small feat. Here’s a rundown of how I have started to approach this task one room at a time:


Preparation: First things first, safety! I made sure to equip myself with proper protective gear, including gloves, goggles, and a mask when needed. I also covered the floors and surrounding areas to protect them.


Testing: Before diving in, I recommend testing a small, inconspicuous area to see what method would work best for removing the paint without damaging the underlying surface. I personally decided to choose our guest bedroom as my test area, which has since earned the nickname "the Frankenstein room."


Choosing a Method: Depending on the surface, you need to decide if you want to strip all the paint or just remove the top layer. Initially, I aimed to strip the paint down to bare wood to potentially keep the wood-colored look. However, I discovered that some of the old pine underneath had been repaired with fillers, which added another layer of complexity. Realizing how much work that entailed, I’m now leaning towards using a steamer to peel off the grey latex paint instead.


Cleaning Up: Once the paint was removed, I thoroughly cleaned the surfaces according to instructions to remove any residue from the stripping agents. This step is crucial to ensure that the new paint or finish adheres properly.


Restoring the Original Look: With the paint removed, I will move on to applying a more historically accurate white paint on the moldings and trims.


Recommendations for stripping paint


If you’re considering peeling off multiple layers of paint down to bare wood, here are some recommendations based on my experience from my frankenstein room:


Peel Away Dumond Brand: This is a product I recommend for tackling multiple layers of paint, especially if you’re dealing with potential lead paint. It’s effective for heavy-duty stripping tasks.The Peel Away stripper comes with a spatula for application, and it’s crucial to spread the product thickly. Avoid using regular paint brushes, as they can be damaged by the stripper—my natural hair paint brush practically dissolved as though it were exposed to bleach and hair perm chemicals. As I have worked as a hair dresser in my past life I decided to test hair coloring brushes like these: https://amzn.to/3W93UZD those things can handle anything and worked well.


 I do not recommend using this on window grilles as it turned into a dry mess and I had to add another stripper overnight to get it off.


I Avoided Peel Away Paper Films: The paper films designed for use with Peel Away can be both problematic and costly. Once they dry in place, they become nearly impossible to remove. After trying the dumond paper once I decided to try stretch wrap instead (the kind used for wrapping furniture). It prevents the Peel Away from drying out and comes off easy. In both cases the peel away product needs to stay on for about 72 hours. The instructions recommend avoiding the use of paper film or the Peel Away in warmer weather, so they might work better up north where temperatures are cooler and drying out is less of an issue. I plan to test the paper films on a door once we approach winter, as I believe they might perform better when the surface is horizontal.


DIY Paint Stripper: In the end I ended up creating a homemade version of Peel Away using a mix of lye and lime. It turned out to be quite effective, working in just 24 hours. However, due to safety concerns, I wouldn’t recommend making your own paint stripper.


Other Paint Strippers and Heat Gun: Out of all the paint strippers I tried, including Citristrip, Smart Strip, and Smart Strip Pro, Peel Away stands out as the best choice for handling multiple layers and potential lead paint. For window grilles, I would still recommend sticking with Citristrip or Smart Strip, as they all work similarly. Citristrip is generally cheaper, if I remember correctly, but Smart Strip is notable for its lack of odor. With Citristrip, I found that applying a layer, waiting for it to bubble, and then adding another layer on top worked well. I also tried leaving it overnight covered with plastic, which did remove a few layers, but I found it quite gooey and unpleasant to peel. In contrast, Peel Away comes off in strips, which is truly amazing.


Citristip 2 layers overnight and under plastic wrap:


Smart strip and Smart strip pro one time application overnight


Peel away one application 72 hours under plastic:

Peel away results with the dumond paper:


The Rewards of Restoration


Removing millennial grey paint and restoring the carriage house to its former glory is a labor of love. It’s incredibly rewarding and interesting to see the building's original features shine through, and the process has given me a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into creating this historic gem.


A New Chapter


As I continue with the restoration, I’m excited to see the carriage house take on its new-old look. The journey has been challenging but worth every effort. Restoring a piece of history is not just about removing paint and drywall—it’s about reconnecting with the past and preserving it for future generations to admire and enjoy.


If you’re tackling a similar project, remember that patience and careful work are key. Every layer of paint removed is a step closer to unveiling the true character of your historic home.


Here’s to bringing history back to life, one brushstroke at a time!


Links to products used:


 
 
 

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