Carpentry and Woodworking - Wood Wall Sanding...

Hi there, new here. recently bought a condo that needs a bit of fixin'

I would like to know if it is at all possible to sand wood walls, to remove a light coat of paint and maybe smooth out a bit, without taking down panels?

If yes, which is the best way? I've searched and search but I only find info on wood floors.

HELP! :confused:

Thanks.

If you plan to paint the walls, clean them well with mineral spirits to remove all the grease, grit, and grime that accumulates on them. Sand lightly with some 150 - 180 grit paper to knock down any irregularities, then tack off the wall with a cloth dampened in mineral spirits. Now prime and paint.

Hope this helps.

Hi, Thanks for the info. that sure was fast! :)
Since the condo is on the mountains, we plan on removing the paint and coating it with varnish of some sort- to give the condo a more rustic look to it. It has a very light coat of paint.
What are or is mineral spirits?
Also, what type of sander should we use? We have a handheld one- we were thinking of renting a big one...if there is such a thing. Any suggestions?

The wall is pretty raw so to speak, so there are many groves-which is okay. We are more concerned with removing the paint.

Thanks,
Mar

Mar-

Are you sure the walls are real wood? Your description sounds like some kind of paneling which may (or may not) be real wood. Before you get too enthusiastic, I would recommend removing a switch or receptacle cover and looking carefully at the 'edge' of the panel material.

Many paneling systems have a thin wood veneer over a masonite, MDF, or plywood substrate. The wood veneer is VERY thin and can be sanded through in a heartbeat. If you get a 'sand through', it will show up like a neon sign when you put on your varnish. To add to the fun, most of these paneling systems are glued to the wall with adhesive making removal a major pain.

Hi Chris, I am 110% sure the wall is wood. It is an old small condo built in the late 70's and it has one entire wall made up of unfinished wood.
Wood planks would probably be the best way to describe it.

I suppose it was the way to have a rustic look back then.
It is not the best quality wood- I don't think- but it works.
As far as what is behind the wood, I have no clue.

Mar

Yeah, the 70's was the era of "rustic" - and usually a dark color. :eek:

If you're sure it's solid wood, stripping and sanding is probably the best solution. Those grooves you mentioned will require scraping to get the old paint out. A painters 5-in-1 tool may be what you need for those.

It's messy, but I would use a stripper (Jasco, etc) and scrapers to get as much paint off as possible. Then use that hand held sander and sanding blocks to get the rest and smooth the wood. I wouldn't bother with a heavier sander - it will get pretty heavy before you're done.

When you have all the paint off and the wood is smooth, vacuum the wall(s) and wipe down with mineral spirits (paint thinner) then apply your finish.

Remember that water-based finishes will dry clear and oil-based finishes usually give and amber tint. You might want to start in a small, inconspicuous, area and see what it looks like before you commit.

Good Luck.