I want to remove oil based paint from a plaster ceiling. I have read that using a wallpaper removal steamer will work. Has anyone tried using a wallpaper removal steamer to remove oil based paint? I read that the steam will soften the paint & I can then easily scrape off the soft paint. I am hoping to avoid having to sand if possible. Thanks

 

Why are you trying to remove the paint? My first thought it to paint over it but I don't know your end goal.

 

Water or steam on top of oil base paint will have little or no effect. Water under the paint will cause it to lift but may also damage the substrate. Generally there is no need to remove the oil base paint. It's a lot easier to coat it with an oil base primer and then apply a coat or two of latex.

 

It is peeling in differant places & looks a mess. I am refreshing the bathroom. I have read about scraping the loose paint around the peeling areas & then mudding & sanding & then priming & painting.
I was hoping that if steaming & then scraping the paint off would work I could eliminate most of the sanding work?

PS: I posted the above before reading your post marksr. Thanks

 

How old is the house? any danger of lead based paint?

 

The house was built around 1977. Was lead paint around at that time? Thanks

 

I don't remember the exact yr that lead was banned from residential coatings but it isn't likely that a house of that age would have lead based paint. By the late 70's most builders/painters had switched to latex enamel in bath rms on new construction.

After the loose has been scraped off I'd sand the remaining oil base paint with 80 or 100 grit sandpaper and then coat it with a solvent based primer [oil base or pigmented shellac] If the plaster is dusty - prime it too. Once dry you can mud as needed, sand and prime again [latex is ok this time] followed by 1-2 coats of latex enamel. I'd strongly suggest using a bath rm paint if there isn't a working exhaust fan!

 

I'd recommend kitchen and bath paint even if there is an exhaust fan.