Options for old paint on Stone

[MulesMarinair]

Hi folks
I was wondering if somebody could advise on paint removal (or painting over) options for our front porch.
We have an old 1870's stone house.
At some stage, somebody built a vestibule / front porch around the front door.
At some point after that, somebody painted it all in a lovely shade of sky blue...

Over time, the paint has started to flake and peel in places (only patches, most seems to have bonded. It also has a sheen / slight glossiness to the coat)

I'd really like to tidy it up and I'm wondering what the best approach might be.

I've attached a few pics as they will give a better idea

Thanks for your help
yours etc.,
MM

 

[malcolm]

My preference would be to remove the paint. Painting over would just leave more paint on there which will flake off too requiring another repaint. In another 30 years it will end up being a thickly painted flaky mess. The flaking is not caused by a poor paint bond but by moisture in the stone that can't get out.

Our limestone door surround was stripped using paint stripper and a DOFF hot water pressure washer. Sandstone is soft so whoever does the stripping would need to be very sensitive. Some of our stone stripped very well leaving some painted writing behind the masonry paint partly visible, and some was damaged with marks cut by the fan of the pressure washer. Other bits were very badly weathered but I think that was due to frost damage under the waterproof paint.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I had some morons try and strip the paint from my stone window surrounds and sills with a doff pressure washer. They caused a lot of damage. I would advise against this. I too think stripping would be good, and I am now a big fan of peelaway 1 which is the very caustic version. It is very good at stripping oil based paint, but the clean up afterwards is a bit tedious as it is a poultice, and the residue needs to be scrubbed off with lots of water, but it works and won't damage the stone.

 

[GPHouse]

A lot of big period sandstone properties around me are being cleaned up (Bristol) and the vast majority of contractors are using peelaway to get rid of the paint. Results have been superb. Thats the route I would take.

Slap in on, stick the backer on, leave for a few days, peel and clean....

 

[MulesMarinair]

Thanks folks
I've ordered a couple of sample packs of Peelaway and will see what happens
Will post some before during and after photos in case it is of interest to anybody down the line
Have a good weekend
MM

 

[Feltwell]

One firm that many on here have used is "Strippers of Sudbury". They make & supply a huge variety of stripping chemicals, and are very helpful.

http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/

 

[MulesMarinair]

Hi folks
Ordered some testers for PeelAway soon after these posts but it took me ages to get around to trying them out. Have attached pics, caustic on the left , water based on the right.
The first one for the water based look promising but it didn't really work effectively on other areas.
There must be 6 different colours under that top blue colour , with a base of something that I'm guessing is shellac.
It will be a long messy job!
Will keep you posted
MM

 

[MulesMarinair]

 

[MulesMarinair]