Trim Strippin'
I got back to the task of stripping trim last night after having taken the weekend off for a bit of fun. Dad and Kathy got the chance to head out to check out the place and didn’t seem to think we were nuts for buying it (or at least didn’t tell us as much). It was great showing them around the place and getting their ideas on what we can do. There isn’t much work to do currently- right now we’re just in trim stripping mode but once we get into some major work (i.e. bathroom or kitchen) I’m sure we’ll be putting in a call for back up.
Right before they arrived we got some rather interesting information- there is a place in town who claims they can strip the trim for us in a day (a day!) if we can just safely get it off the walls. I briefly weighed the pros and cons- on one hand we would be running a big risk trying to pry off the trim- especially because in many places it’s already splintered. After getting it off in a couple places I now know that the trim is original to the house (there is no paint underneath it) but I think it is reused. There are numerous nail holes, many not currently in use, and all the cracks are where they would have pried it off another house. Plus there are some random notches where hinges for doors would have gone, but in places where there were definitely not hinges in this house. These cracks, coupled with the fact that in many places the trim is approximately 15’ long makes it a risky venture. I have already split one rosette in half and that is undoubtedly not a good feeling. I plan on gluing that back together, sanding as best I can, and putting it back up. I decided that it’s more important that it’s original than it look perfect.
But on the other hand the trim would be done in one day. That hardly seems possible after spending three months in one room. My dad was impressed we’ve gotten as much stripped in the living room as we have so that made me feel better, but nevertheless it feels like it has been an eternity. Also there are always the health concerns in the back of my mind. Although I wear a HEPA respirator I still can’t help but wonder about how much lead is released into the house (we do cross-ventilate while working). I remind myself that people worked with lead based paint for years, but I’ve also written reports about how many IQ points children exposed to high lead environments lose on average (7!). Plus we have been able to pry (rather gingerly and ever so slowly), some random pieces off without any damage so I have hope.
This place says they use cold solvent technology as opposed to the old lye dip-stripping which has been said to raise the grain of the wood and loosen the glue in the joints. I can’t help but be skeptical though of their ability to get off the 1/8” layer(s) of white paint, the tan layer of who knows what which just goops up and creates a mess, and the layer of shellac or really old varnish. All while preserving the original quality of the wood. Lucky for us they’ll take a piece less than 3’ a test it for us for free. We just have to get it to them by tomorrow and pick it up next day. (Next day!) I’m crossing my fingers that it comes back looking like the pieces I have labored over for hours, and my mind runs wild with the possibilities if this is the case. I’m trying to keep this excitement in check lest I be grossly disappointed, but the anticipation is almost unbearable.
Right before they arrived we got some rather interesting information- there is a place in town who claims they can strip the trim for us in a day (a day!) if we can just safely get it off the walls. I briefly weighed the pros and cons- on one hand we would be running a big risk trying to pry off the trim- especially because in many places it’s already splintered. After getting it off in a couple places I now know that the trim is original to the house (there is no paint underneath it) but I think it is reused. There are numerous nail holes, many not currently in use, and all the cracks are where they would have pried it off another house. Plus there are some random notches where hinges for doors would have gone, but in places where there were definitely not hinges in this house. These cracks, coupled with the fact that in many places the trim is approximately 15’ long makes it a risky venture. I have already split one rosette in half and that is undoubtedly not a good feeling. I plan on gluing that back together, sanding as best I can, and putting it back up. I decided that it’s more important that it’s original than it look perfect.
But on the other hand the trim would be done in one day. That hardly seems possible after spending three months in one room. My dad was impressed we’ve gotten as much stripped in the living room as we have so that made me feel better, but nevertheless it feels like it has been an eternity. Also there are always the health concerns in the back of my mind. Although I wear a HEPA respirator I still can’t help but wonder about how much lead is released into the house (we do cross-ventilate while working). I remind myself that people worked with lead based paint for years, but I’ve also written reports about how many IQ points children exposed to high lead environments lose on average (7!). Plus we have been able to pry (rather gingerly and ever so slowly), some random pieces off without any damage so I have hope.
This place says they use cold solvent technology as opposed to the old lye dip-stripping which has been said to raise the grain of the wood and loosen the glue in the joints. I can’t help but be skeptical though of their ability to get off the 1/8” layer(s) of white paint, the tan layer of who knows what which just goops up and creates a mess, and the layer of shellac or really old varnish. All while preserving the original quality of the wood. Lucky for us they’ll take a piece less than 3’ a test it for us for free. We just have to get it to them by tomorrow and pick it up next day. (Next day!) I’m crossing my fingers that it comes back looking like the pieces I have labored over for hours, and my mind runs wild with the possibilities if this is the case. I’m trying to keep this excitement in check lest I be grossly disappointed, but the anticipation is almost unbearable.
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