See below for a question from a resident that I wouldn’t mind an answer to myself. One consideration she doesn’t mention is whether any of the paint could be old enough to contain lead, particularly in the beam crevices. Please share any thoughts or advice in the comments. And thanks in advance!
Does anyone have suggestions on how to remove old paint from the wood beams? Mine have a lot of white paint marks from previous owners, including areas where it looks like they got ceiling paint on the beam, tried to wipe it off, and just ended up leaving a white smear (example photos attached). I haven’t been brave enough to try fixing this for fear of making the issue worse, but we’re repainting our walls and I’d love to get the beams looking better, too. Also not sure if folks ever apply some sort of wood conditioner or oil to the beams, or if it’s best to leave them in their raw unfinished state?
I tried looking up resources for maintaining antique pine heart wood, but everything I found online was about flooring and trim. Nothing on gigantic structural beams with a rough surface!
The texture of the wood seems to imply that it were sandblasted to remove the paint. This is the same as in the stairway railings. That said, the green paint seen elsewhere, does not look like lead paint, which would typically have an alligator skin cracked look and feel to it. More than likely, it was simply a flame retarded paint versus lead per se. Others may have more specific information.
Paint stores sell a lead testing kit. Easily done and affordable.
Concerning paint in the recesses. That I think is problematic. I would guess they were sandblasted. The surface seems to indicate this.
Finishes. Personal Preference. I would assume an oil-based or waiter-based polyurethane. The fumes from this will permeate to your neighbors. It is a health risk. Be a good neighbor. Fan pulling air out of the unit to the outdoors is strongly advised. Poly is highly self-flammable if not handled properly. Used brushes and rags need to be stored properly or a fire is quite likely. Look up these requirements. There was a serious fire as a result of improper use that caused millions to repair in this building. I prefer a Natural finish.