Stripping furniture is a process of removing the old finish and preparing it for a new coat of paint or stain. Stripping can be done in any temperature, but some people prefer to wait until the weather warms up because cold temperatures make it difficult to work with certain stripping products (you don’t want them freezing on your furniture!). This post will answer the question “can I strip furniture in cold temperatures?”
Can you strip furniture in cold weather?
Stripping furniture in cold weather is not recommended. It’s much better to wait until the weather warms up and stripping can be done safely and effectively.
- The longer you wait, the harder it will be to strip your furniture as the paint layers harden as they dry.
- The colder it is outside, the more difficult it will be to heat up a space that is large enough for you to work in comfortably while stripping furniture.
- Cold weather makes it more difficult for many of us who have already endured long winter months of snowfall, sub-freezing temperatures and ice storms (like we had this winter). It can make our muscles stiffen up easily which could lead to injuries if you don’t take proper precautions when stripping furniture indoors during these conditions.
Why is that?
Let’s take a look at the facts. Stripping furniture is often a laborious process, and it can be difficult to get through without help from professionals. In addition to being physically taxing, stripping products are also toxic, flammable and expensive—and they’re not necessary in cold weather.
The harsh reality is that stripping furniture in cold weather is an inefficient choice for most people because it takes so much time and effort and you still need protective gear. But if you do decide to strip furniture yourself (which we don’t recommend), here’s what you need to know:
Stripping requires certain conditions in order to be effective
Stripping furniture requires certain conditions to be effective. The room should be warm, and you must wear gloves, eye protection and a respirator.
If you don’t have an environmentally controlled space that can maintain temperature levels between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, then stripping may not work for you. If it’s too cold outside or your house is drafty, then stripping could cause the wood to crack as it expands and contracts in response to temperature changes. The same goes for humidity levels: if they’re too low or high (lower than 40 percent), then stripping won’t work well either because moisture will become trapped inside the wood grain instead of being absorbed by it like it should be.
Stripping in freezing temperatures will not be effective
Stripping in freezing temperatures is not effective. This is because the stripping procedure will not be able to work properly, and the stripping product will not penetrate into the finish of your furniture. The stripping product will also have a difficult time dissolving or lifting off the finish during this time of year.
What are the right conditions for stripping furniture?
To strip furniture, you need to be prepared. If you are going to do this on your own, make sure that the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees F. The humidity level should be high enough to prevent any warping of wood or shrinkage of veneers. You may want to use a respirator and gloves while stripping furniture in cold weather because paint fumes can cause breathing problems when exposed for long periods of time.
Make sure that everything is properly ventilated during the stripping process so that no one inhales dangerous fumes from chemicals used in stripping processes.
The temperature should be between 50 and 90 degrees F
The temperature should be between 50 and 90 degrees F. The warmer the room, the faster the wood will dry. If it’s too cold, your stripper may not work effectively because it will take longer for it to break down any existing finish on your project piece.
If you’re stripping furniture in a garage or basement with no heat source available, you can use an electric heater to raise the ambient air temperature around 10 degrees above that of your workspace. For example, if your garage is 40 degrees F but has a concrete floor and little ventilation—and you don’t want to turn on an extension cord—you can set up a small space heater near where you’re working so that when its warm air mixes with cooler air in this area, they’ll equalize at around 50 degrees F (or whatever temperature best suits your needs).
Since most stripping products have toxic chemicals, make sure to use a respirator, gloves and do it in a well-ventilated area. Do not breathe the fumes. Use gloves to protect your hands from contact with any of the stripper’s ingredients. Use a respirator to protect your lungs from breathing in solvent vapors that can cause dizziness or headaches.
If you live in an area with cold temperatures, you can wait until the weather warms up or look for an indoor space that is warm enough to work in.
In some cases, a garage or basement may be warm enough to strip furniture during winter months. If not, consider renting a nearby storage unit with climate control as your working area.
Conclusion
The best way to strip furniture in cold weather is to wait until the weather warms up. If you don’t want to wait, consider an indoor space that is warm enough for stripping or look for stripping products that are less toxic. Remember: Stripping requires certain conditions in order for the product to be effective and stripping in freezing temperatures will not work!
