Removing Mantle to Strip
I am using DeGamba to strip various on-site things on our parlor floor. I have been happy with the work and we are now considering stripping the wood mantle. Originally we were just going to leave it painted but when the marble was revealed we now can’t stand the gold paint on the mantle even…
I am using DeGamba to strip various on-site things on our parlor floor. I have been happy with the work and we are now considering stripping the wood mantle. Originally we were just going to leave it painted but when the marble was revealed we now can’t stand the gold paint on the mantle even more than before. DeGamba says it will be easy to remove the Mantle and strip it in his shop rather than doing it on-site. I am nervous about having it all taken apart. Will it go back together as before? DeGamba assures me that he does it all the time and it’s always replaced beautifully but I am skeptical. However, I would PREFER to take it off site as sanding will follow stripping and I would like to keep on-site sanding in my past. Does anyone have any opinions about on-site vs. off-site sanding of their mantle. Thanks!
I see that every body on this site is geting on me, and you what I’am the best in parkslope and no one in the 5 boros can do better work. If you think that by saying things you will make people see me any different my friend you are mistaken. anon your an (asshole) i wish you would come to my office and say the thing’s you said on this site to my face. As for the rest of you I’am still here and still doing qulity work for many people in (parkslope) and everywhere else!
If we are discussing the OP’s wood mantle, then I’d agree with the idea that it’s safer to strip offsite. Without seeing the article in question, generally speaking wood mantles are not that difficult to dismantle (no pun intended)and reassemble. No harder than removing any other moldings as long as it’s done by someone trustworthy that has verifiable experience doing the same.
That said, I wouldn’t let DiGamba do it for the reasons the other respondents mention. There are other strippers out there that can do this.
I had some inexperienced cheap labor take apart an old Marble Mantle, strip the paint off with scrapers and a little remover, and put it back together.
Amazingly, it came out beautifully despite the fact that there’s an extra piece of Marble sitting in the livingroom and we have no idea where it belongs.
If I were you, I wouldn’t let anyone remove the mantel or any other irreplaceable decoration. If it gets damaged or “lost”, will the vendor take responsibility for this and reimburse you? A while back we were looking for someone to do some wood stripping and we had Degamba come over and give us an estimate. He did, and insisted he would have to remove all pocket doors and strip them at his shop since it was “not possible” to strip them in situ. I thought this was BS and for that and other reasons we ended up using another company to do the stripping instead. They had no problem stripping the doors. If you’re worried about the dust and mess sanding can create, why not use a chemical process instead?
the original poster did mention marble, and marble should not have paint removed by sanding; chemicals and plastic scrapers and 3m scrubbies are what you need to use.
Usually, a marble mantel separates into 3 large pieces; plus a keystone, which goes in the center underneath the shelf and hides the seam between the two lower pieces. Keep in mind the possibility of cracking one of the individual pieces when they are handled in the stripping process.
If the mantel is wood, then removing it for stripping is a lot less problematic, and certainly less distruptive than doing it in the house.
It is a wood mantle.
If you have painted marble mantels that need to be stripped, why would you want them sanded. Marble is so soft that sanding them will only scratch them. You need to use a chemical stripper like Miracle Rock, a plastic scraper. When you’re all done, you need to use a non-scratch pad sponge and water (maybe some more Miracle Rock) to clean up any residual paint. You shouldn’t have any dust from stripping a marble mantel, but you will need to protect your floors from the chemical stripper. Putting together a marble mantel, esp. if you’re going to use the fireplace, reallly requires a chimney/fireplace specialist.
Be careful about letting Degamba take anything off site. The son assured me that he was skilled at lead abatement, charged me for this, and then threatened to keep my doors when we were upset that his form of abatement meant COVERING my child’s room with a thick layer of lead dust which he had no intention of cleaning up). I would have sued him if I wasn’t afraid.
I’m surprised your experience has been this good with DeGamba.