Removing Paint From Ballistrades
- 1). Protect areas beneath the balustrade. Carefully and meticulously cover these spots, using plastic drop cloths. Position shop towels over the top of the plastic to keep drips from pooling up.
- 2). Put on your respirator.
- 3). Apply solvent-based stripper to a 3-foot-wide section of the painted balustrade, using a china brush. Drape plastic drop cloths over the top of the railing, so it covers that portion of the balustrade; this will prevent the solvent from evaporating before it is able to loosen the existing paint.
- 4). Wait five minutes. Remove the plastic and scrape the loosened paint, using a plastic putty knife. Execute this technique across the entire balustrade.
- 5). Put on rubber gloves.
- 6). Scrub off remaining paint using steel wool dampened with stripping solvent. Let the balustrade dry for an hour.
- 7). Sand off remaining stubborn portions of dry paint, using 220-grit sandpaper.