Heat Gun for Peeling Exterior Paint

How It Works

• A heat gun looks like a hair dryer with a large metal casing. It releases infrared heat from it's nozzle. This heat raises the temperature of the substrate to a point where the paint releases its bond. Many heat guns heat at temperatures between 500 and 750 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid using heat guns that heat at higher temperatures. They may damage the substrate or cause it to ignite.

How to Use It

• A heat gun may look like a blow dryer but it produces potentially dangerous heat at a much higher temperature. Read the owner's manual carefully before using it for the first time. Once you know how it operates and turn it on, the key is to keep it moving. Work in 1-square-foot areas at a time. Heat one spot for 20 to 30 seconds and move on to the next. Repeat in the area until the paint bubbles and blisters. Scrape off the paint with a putty knife. Hold the knife at a narrow angle to the wood and scrape in the direction of the grain.

Cleanup

• A heat gun will remove most of the thick paint. However, it is likely to leave thin, splotchy areas of paint still clinging to the wood. Don't try to use the heat gun to remove this residue. A better tool is a 60-to-80-grit block sander. Sand in the direction of the grain just enough to remove the old paint. Or, for a less labor intensive method, apply a chemical paint remover to the wood according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Warning

• Heat guns do pose a risk of fire. A heat gun may ignite an unseen ember that may burn unseen for hours before flames break through the surface. Avoid using the heat gun on a dusty surface. Feel the wall a few hours after paint removal for hot spots. Also avoid using heat guns on thin layers of paint. A heat gun will turn one or two layers of paint into sticky gunk that won't lift off the wood with a putty knife. Avoid applying the heat near windows as well. The heat may break the glass.