Exterior Paint Removal & Application on Transite Siding Query
#1
02-16-12, 10:38 AM
Exterior Paint Removal & Application on Transite Siding Query
Current Project:
Hello, I would like to strip and paint my mother’s 2-story house. It has old Transite (Portland cement / asbestos) type siding that has texture grooving and is in overall good shape. This is a rather straightforward undertaking that I would like to expedite without sacrificing too much quality and finish longevity.
A Little History:
It was last stripped and painted (without a primer coat, ugh!) about 15-years ago with acrylic latex. It held up pretty well considering the weather extremes but is understandably peeling; particularly after a couple of winter seasons where the furnace humidifier was set higher that normal, resulting in accelerated peeling in the areas around the attic vents and other areas where interior moisture became excessive.
When the house was last stripped and painted, we had carefully stripped the old latex paint using a hand scraper and wire brush, being mindful and relatively careful so as not to release (“fry”) asbestos fibers into the air. Much of this was done under wetted conditions to further reduce the risk. It went surprisingly well but I would not want to go through that particular process again with regards to paint removal and prep.
Paint Removal Options:
This time around, I was thinking of using a heat-gun or infrared stripping method, but that again appears as though it would be a rather tedious undertaking. I really don’t want to pressure wash / strip primarily because of the soggy mess produced and the possibility of water getting up under the siding. Also, I don’t think it would do a very good job getting the heavier paint accumulations from the bottom edge of the siding panels, and possibly requiring much hand scraping after-wards anyway. It would also be difficult to do the stripping with a pressure washer at the higher elevations with only a ladder as the primary means, so I’ve kind of ruled this method out.
Soda Blasting?
What appeals to me, considering the type of siding that we are dealing with here, is something along the lines, not as abrasive as sand blasting, but perhaps a method used in auto body refinishing, something more on the order of soda blasting. I was wondering if anyone has used this (or similar) method to remove house paint?
Wow, that’s a Big Compressor / Overhead Cost:
My searches along the lines of equipment rental and/or purchase of related hardware necessary to do this was not too successful both in terms of being cost effective and meeting the necessary pressure requirements of a suitable soda blaster (other than small scale) it would appear. For most apparently “suitable” soda blasters, the pressure requirements are in the area of ~80 CFM @ ~ 90PSI; the CFM and tank volume (minimum of 30, 60 gallon?) appear to be the catch, thus requiring a rather hefty air compressor. It would appear that a new suitable combo abrasive / soda blaster could be bought in the area of around $400, but the compressor (if new) would run anywhere from ~$900 min. on up; more likely it would appear @ around $2k overall if portable was desired; I don’t know. Would anyone have any recommendations along these lines?
What type of Primer/Paint would be best for this type of Siding?
Finally, I don’t know a whole lot about painting and would like to know what the best primer (oil based, etc?) and paint (oil, latex, acrylic latex, etc.) would be for such a project located in a part of the Country where temperature, at times, can range anywhere from 100 deg. F in the summer, to –30 deg. F in the Winter? Thank you for any help.
Hello, I would like to strip and paint my mother’s 2-story house. It has old Transite (Portland cement / asbestos) type siding that has texture grooving and is in overall good shape. This is a rather straightforward undertaking that I would like to expedite without sacrificing too much quality and finish longevity.
A Little History:
It was last stripped and painted (without a primer coat, ugh!) about 15-years ago with acrylic latex. It held up pretty well considering the weather extremes but is understandably peeling; particularly after a couple of winter seasons where the furnace humidifier was set higher that normal, resulting in accelerated peeling in the areas around the attic vents and other areas where interior moisture became excessive.
When the house was last stripped and painted, we had carefully stripped the old latex paint using a hand scraper and wire brush, being mindful and relatively careful so as not to release (“fry”) asbestos fibers into the air. Much of this was done under wetted conditions to further reduce the risk. It went surprisingly well but I would not want to go through that particular process again with regards to paint removal and prep.
Paint Removal Options:
This time around, I was thinking of using a heat-gun or infrared stripping method, but that again appears as though it would be a rather tedious undertaking. I really don’t want to pressure wash / strip primarily because of the soggy mess produced and the possibility of water getting up under the siding. Also, I don’t think it would do a very good job getting the heavier paint accumulations from the bottom edge of the siding panels, and possibly requiring much hand scraping after-wards anyway. It would also be difficult to do the stripping with a pressure washer at the higher elevations with only a ladder as the primary means, so I’ve kind of ruled this method out.
Soda Blasting?
What appeals to me, considering the type of siding that we are dealing with here, is something along the lines, not as abrasive as sand blasting, but perhaps a method used in auto body refinishing, something more on the order of soda blasting. I was wondering if anyone has used this (or similar) method to remove house paint?
Wow, that’s a Big Compressor / Overhead Cost:
My searches along the lines of equipment rental and/or purchase of related hardware necessary to do this was not too successful both in terms of being cost effective and meeting the necessary pressure requirements of a suitable soda blaster (other than small scale) it would appear. For most apparently “suitable” soda blasters, the pressure requirements are in the area of ~80 CFM @ ~ 90PSI; the CFM and tank volume (minimum of 30, 60 gallon?) appear to be the catch, thus requiring a rather hefty air compressor. It would appear that a new suitable combo abrasive / soda blaster could be bought in the area of around $400, but the compressor (if new) would run anywhere from ~$900 min. on up; more likely it would appear @ around $2k overall if portable was desired; I don’t know. Would anyone have any recommendations along these lines?
What type of Primer/Paint would be best for this type of Siding?
Finally, I don’t know a whole lot about painting and would like to know what the best primer (oil based, etc?) and paint (oil, latex, acrylic latex, etc.) would be for such a project located in a part of the Country where temperature, at times, can range anywhere from 100 deg. F in the summer, to –30 deg. F in the Winter? Thank you for any help.
Last edited by pokemon; 02-16-12 at 11:36 AM. Reason: typo
#2
02-16-12, 03:45 PM
Welcome to the forums!
It's been quite awhile since I've painted any asbestos shingle siding. We always cleaned the house [with or without a PWer] and then removed any loose paint with a wire brush. A wire brush works better with the grooves than a scraper or putty knife does. I've never been requested to completely strip the siding prior to repainting.
Any type of media blasting would require a heavy duty set up unless you are willing to go really slow with a diy type unit. While a PWer is a good aide for cleaning I would not use it to strip the shingles. It's too easy to damage them much less get water behind the siding.
If the old paint is chalky, you need to either use an oil base primer or add Flood's Emulsa Bond to the first coat of paint or primer. A quality latex house paint would be best for the finish coat.
It's been quite awhile since I've painted any asbestos shingle siding. We always cleaned the house [with or without a PWer] and then removed any loose paint with a wire brush. A wire brush works better with the grooves than a scraper or putty knife does. I've never been requested to completely strip the siding prior to repainting.
Any type of media blasting would require a heavy duty set up unless you are willing to go really slow with a diy type unit. While a PWer is a good aide for cleaning I would not use it to strip the shingles. It's too easy to damage them much less get water behind the siding.
If the old paint is chalky, you need to either use an oil base primer or add Flood's Emulsa Bond to the first coat of paint or primer. A quality latex house paint would be best for the finish coat.
