The Best Power Tools for DIY Decorating

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The term spring clean means different things to different people. Whilst some couples may use the first flush of sunlight to detox the house of unwanted rubbish, others see it as a perfect opportunity to refresh the paintwork and update the décor.

However you view this time of year, there are many power tools that make decorating simpler, taking out the hard graft cutting time and exertion by half.

Stripping Paint

Liquid paint stripper used to be the method of choice for removing gloss from wood and metal, be it bannisters, skirting’s or doors, we all remember the times when being a little over zealous we’ve burned our own hands on the acrid liquid. Now, however, the hot air gun is preferred as with precision it can be directed onto the paint in question making it bubble so you can easily scrape away.

As a hot air gun works in much the same way as a hair dryer, they are perfectly safe is used correctly. There are no naked flames, and the heat deftly softens paint without leaving the gloopy residue that paint stripper does.

It’s still advisable though that you take precautions, wear a face mask and if your house was built before the 1960’s test the paint for lead. Although lead paint is no longer available to buy, some older houses still have the remains of it on their walls and skirting’s, and inhaling the paint can cause poisoning.

Stripping Wallpaper

The steam stripper will make light work of any wallpaper. By its very nature it is environmentally friendly as well as leaving no residue apart from water. The steam stripper consists of a cold water reservoir that heats via the hose delivering jets of steam to patches of the surface of the wallpaper softening the paste underneath and allowing easy removal of paper. If the paper has been painted over we suggest you score the surface first to allow the steam to permeate through to the adhesive.

Steam strippers truly are worth their weight in gold and not as expensive as one may think.

Smoothing Surfaces

An electric sander or mouse will allow you to smooth surfaces to a flat finish without the worry of the natural pressure of your hand making bumps and lumps. This is perfect for painting preparation as you can fill all cracks and crevices with filler before sanding the set product to achieve a flawless finish.

Electric sanders have many uses as most allow for a myriad of different papers to be used, making them ideal for rough patches along with more delicate areas. If you use smaller grained sandpaper they will also remove paint from metal work and copper pipes as well as buffing to an extraordinary shine.

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