removing paint from rough sawn beams

[SKateM]

Just bought a condo with wood beams in the cieling. The previous owners painted them gray. I’d like to remove the paint and stain the wood. The wood is rough sawn (not sure of the species) and the paint is flat not glossy. It looks like it was somewhat absorbed into the wood. So scraping it off is not really an option.

Would sanding work? Is there a risk of lead in the paint that could pose health risks (condo built in 70s, gray paint is likely from early 80s)? I was told that in another unit, the owners sandblasted the paint off, but that it was a very messy endeavor. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

skm

[tomh]

The easy part is testing for lead. There are swab test kits at most hardware stores. Sandblasting sounds like the best way. You will never be able to sand that deeply, and the rough wood will not strip chemically. Solid stain might be an option. Its basically latex paint, but you can go for a natural color you like. Another option may be to cover the painted beams with a veneer or boards of stained wood.

Any idea if the beams are decorative or structural?

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