My latest project has been to take the paint off these steps leading down to the w.c. It's a long and thankless task, chip, chip scrrrraape. That old goldenrod colored paint is layered over peach paint and sometimes both come off, sometimes not. It's taking forever. I'm about 1/4 of the way through it. One reason I'm taking the paint off is that I'm campaigning hard to keep the hallway tiles and I'm trying to salvage these steps because it's one of Seb's reasons for wanting to redo the hallway tiles--these steps are sort of part of the hall and they look awful. He thinks we should just redo it all new. He can't see the beauty of the tiles surrounded by all the ugly.
But I love the old tiles in the hallway and the colors are exactly the scheme of colors I like, --blues, beiges and greys. I like the mileage on them, the chips and scratches and worn parts. I like walking on them because I think they have a story to tell about the house and the previous tenants. I think it's really important to keep elements of the original house, to add to the story with your own story.
Woman Sewing, William Paxton 1913
Once the paint is off the steps I hope to polish the concrete a little bit and give it a sheen. I think it will look a lot better and maybe he'll start to see the potential of the whole project.
But I love the old tiles in the hallway and the colors are exactly the scheme of colors I like, --blues, beiges and greys. I like the mileage on them, the chips and scratches and worn parts. I like walking on them because I think they have a story to tell about the house and the previous tenants. I think it's really important to keep elements of the original house, to add to the story with your own story.
Once the paint is off the steps I hope to polish the concrete a little bit and give it a sheen. I think it will look a lot better and maybe he'll start to see the potential of the whole project.
7 comments:
This color scheme in the tiles is the same as at the chateau - I will try and dig up some photos. You're right, they are beautiful.
Thanks. Yes I'd love to see photos!
Have you tried chemical paint-remover? Softens the old paint so it is easy (or easier) to scrape or wash off. Depends on the type of paint, though.
Some of these chemicals are used e.g. for removing graffiti.
Or, alternatively, a mechanical grinder?
Hey yeah thanks. That's good advice but well, my experience with chemical paint removers on stone (our old house--first reno project) was that it melted the paint and then the paint burrowed itself into the stone and it was impossible to get off. It's still on there in fact in the one part where I used chemical remover. And as for the grinder, I would love to grind it out but I´m a little afraid of the lead paint (pretty sure it's lead paint) so I figure chipping is bad but not as bad as long as I wear a mask and gloves.
Thanks so much for your comment and your trying to help. I really apreciate it. My son will laugh when I tell him Bob THE BUILDER!!! came to my blog. Hahaha ;)
We tried various chemical removers, incl. some everyone swore by and they all turned our paint into a gooey mess, even worse than we started. A contractor friend told us that with the old paint, that's what happens, due to how they were made. The chemical removers are made for more modern paints I guess...
We sanded a bunch for removal, which wasn't exactly healthy (wore a mask and all, cleaned up excessively, and fortunately I've had no traces of lead in my blood so I guess our precautions worked), but I won't do it anymore since A was born. Chipping works and is less bad, though it's still going to build up lead dust. Just make sure the area is well sealed and cleaned extremely well so little ones can't breathe it.
We've found a place that uses a water based paint remover and is specific for old houses so anything removable (ie windows, trims) we send there. Other stuff - like the baseboards, we just clean well and paint over...:(
I like the old hallway tiles, too.
those blue and grey tiles are stunning, I hope you win your campaign!
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