Best/easiest way to sand rough skirting boards?

paddy147

The skirting boards in my grandmothers house are the original boards from when the house was built (mid 1940s).

They only have 3 layers of paint on them but they are flaking badly and fairly rough in quite a few places.

Whats the best and "least time consuming" process to get them back to looking half decent again and ready for a fresh lick of paint?

Thanks.:)

Outkast_IRE

paddy147 wrote: »

The skirting boards in my grandmothers house are the original boards from when the house was built (mid 1940s).

They only have 3 layers of paint on them but they are flaking badly and fairly rough in quite a few places.

Whats the best and "least time consuming" process to get them back to looking half decent again and ready for a fresh lick of paint?

Thanks.:)

small electic handheld sander for most of it id say, its either that or heat gun to strip them id imagine.

mad m

If they date 1940's then sanding down when there will be a good chance there is lead in the paint aint a great idea, well unless you were a good ffp3 dust mask.

Or strip them with nitromors paint strippers, it might be a little bit more time consuming but at least you will know it will be down to bare wood and start a fresh..

Vexorg

If the skirting is there since the 40's there is a good chance there is a layer or 2 of lead based paint on it. This can be extremely hazardous especially if you try to sand or take it off with heat, (dust and fumes respectively). There are paint removal systems the you paint on and peel off that are supposed to be safe, best to check with a specialist paint supplier for more advice on various systems, but they are not cheap.

It could be less expensive and quicker to replace the skirting, certainly worth pricing replacements.

(Beaten to it by mad_m)

paddy147

Thanks folks for the advice.:)