Preserving the Past, One Pulse at a Time

By Lorna Garey

Malden’s historic houses are more than just buildings. The stately colonial revivals, American foursquares, and Victorians that grace the city’s neighborhoods are tangible links to the past, with each coat of paint a legacy from those who’ve lived in these homes over many decades. 

Unfortunately, the bright pastels and saturated tones popular at the turn of the century and in the Art Deco period may not fit today’s aesthetics, and accumulated layers of paint often obscure intricate carvings on moldings, mantels, and other decorative elements. But traditional paint removal methods—chemicals, sanding and scraping, heat, or a combination—are messy and laborious, often damage woodwork and remove fine detail, and can pose health risks, particularly in homes built before 1978 that may contain toxic lead paint. 

Now, modern technology offers a gentler, cleaner, and more precise way to reveal the beauty of old woodwork. While still a relatively niche and pricey service, laser paint removal is gaining traction among preservationists, says Paul Buonavolonta, owner of Dartmouth Mobile Blasting, which is based in North Dartmouth.

“We do a lot of historical work in Newport, working with one of the largest mansion renovation firms,” Buonavolonta said. The company has also used lasers to remove graffiti from statues and rust from historic buildings, including the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

Buonavolonta and his associate Kevin Napert recently visited Malden to demonstrate the process, which involves an expert directing a focused, precisely aimed beam of light onto a painted surface. The laser’s energy is absorbed by the paint, causing it to vaporize, or ablate, one layer at a time, while leaving the underlying substrate largely untouched. There was some minor scorching in the demo, which Napert said would be easily removed by sanding the now-bare wood. 

For anyone who’s tried to strip paint and instead lit wood on fire with a heat gun, had the surface softened and shredded by chemicals, or inadvertently sanded off fine details, this is a game changer. Besides woodwork, the laser works on plaster, bricks, stonework, and more—Dartmouth is currently working on removing paint from historic tin ceiling tiles, for example. The device doesn’t harm glass, though it will remove glazing.

Not surprisingly, there’s interest among restoration professionals. 

“We currently do all of our paint removal by hand with a variety of solvents and/or a gel stripper,” said Laura Sheehan, VP and studio manager at Trefler’s, the oldest restoration company in the United States. Based in Newton, the firm has been in business since 1921 and works on a variety of heirloom items, including furniture. Occasionally they use heat, but Sheehan said she is always on the lookout for faster and more efficient ways to remove paint.  

“I have been watching laser paint removal technology for some time, and I am very interested in it,” she said. “Our work is very labor intensive, and I would love to find a way to incorporate it into the business.”

While laser technology has been around for about 15 years, said Buonavolonta, it’s only in the past few years that it’s been embraced by preservationists like Sheehan as well as homeowners. One reason is the learning curve. The process requires skilled operators to ensure the device is calibrated to avoid damaging the substrate material. Napert, who operates the laser, has a background as a machinist and understands how the laser works based on the different types of structures inherent in paint colors. Greens and blues react differently than white or beiges, for example. 

It’s also not quick, contrary to what you see on many YouTube videos. 

“In some cases it is faster [than traditional methods], but in most cases it is used for the most delicate details that painters and woodworkers have the longest time dealing with,” said Buonavolonta. “With the laser, we can do a lot of detailed work in a shorter amount of time.”

Still, he expects adoption to increase. One big reason: Laser paint removal offers environmental and health advantages by eliminating the need for chemical strippers or hazardous fumes from heat guns. While proper ventilation and safety precautions, along with a HEPA vacuum, are still necessary to manage the vaporized paint particles, Buonavolonta says the overall environmental impact is significantly lower than with other removal methods. 

In the case of the sample used in the demo, his recommendation was to use the laser on the fine detail on the upper part of the crown molding, with an estimate of four hours per door or window, and to deploy a more traditional paint remover on the flat and fluted surfaces. The time required will vary depending on the power of the laser, the type and thickness of the paint, and the detail level of the surface. The service is also not inexpensive; Buonavolonta estimated $400 to $500 per door or window, depending on the layers of paint.

For lead paint removal, Buonavolonta says his company follows all EPA guidelines. He uses a shop vac outfitted with a HEPA filter to capture the vaporized particles, uses protective gear, and said that for jobs where lead may be present, the area would be sealed off with plastic sheeting.  

Pulse of Change

There are two general types of lasers. Pulsed lasers emit light in short bursts, or pulses, and can have high peak power with lower ebbs. Continuous wave lasers emit a steady beam of light with a constant power output. Pulsed lasers are preferred for paint removal, says Buonavolonta, because their short bursts allow for more precise control over the amount of material removed. There’s more to the science to consider, including how different wavelengths are absorbed by various materials and the power of the device. Napert admits there was a period of trial and error—which could be costly if learning is done on antique woodwork.

Speaking of cost, these devices range from around $1,000 to well into the six figures. And because most lasers are imported from China, they’re likely to become more pricey as tariffs take effect. 

Still, with many Malden homes dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, there’s room for a new restoration method in town. This technology also aligns with the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Many chemical strippers contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and harmful solvents, while laser removal primarily produces vaporized particles that are contained in the HEPA vacuum for responsible disposal. 

“Every year laser technology gets better and better and we update our lasers,” said Buonavolonta. “It’s been a great addition to the business.”