Restoration isn’t just about removing old paint, it’s about honoring the stories that are built into the wood beneath it. Time and again, we’ve been inspired by homeowners and professionals who have opted to use Speedheater™ infrared paint removal tools to restore rather than replace, taking the more thoughtful path to preserve original craftsmanship in old homes.
(Photo Credit: Cristiana Peña & Nick Porter)
In this blog, you’ll hear from three Speedheater™ owners whose projects reflect that mindset. Their experiences show what’s possible when care, patience, and the right tools come together, especially when safety and lead-conscious methods matter most. Whether you’re tackling your first restoration or refining your process as a seasoned pro, these stories highlight how modern infrared tools help remove old paint safely – without compromising the wood or your health.
This 1790s former church had decades of paint until the Cobra
We were pleased to hear from Cristiana Peña who, together with her partner Nick Porter, has been renovating “Welsh Hall” in Granville, NY – a former church that dates back to the 1790s. Below, in her own words. Cristiana tells how the Speedheater™ Cobra has played a vital part in uncovering the beauty of the building they now call home.
“The Speedheater Cobra woke our historic home—a church built c. 1793—from its decades-long slumber. For the past three years, we’ve been working to convert this former house of worship into a private residence. The exterior of the building reflects its 18th century origins, while also showing us a glimpse of evolving tastes with later, c. 1860s decorative modifications around the windows.”
“Years of paint had built up so much that the Gothic Revival details surrounding windows and the Eastlake-esque features on the carved wooden double-doors had lost their sharpness and were hard to appreciate. The Speedheater Cobra undid decades (centuries?) of paint layers and completely refreshed the church—our home that we now call Welsh Hall, in tribute to the history of Welsh immigration to the slate quarries of our region.”
Follow the renovation of Welsh Hall on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/welshhall/
Nick paint stripping with the Speedheater™ Cobra at Welsh Hall
How the Stanfields Revived Their 1890 Folk Victorian
Your Dream Restoration is Within Reach!
Ever dreamed of bringing an old home back to life, preserving its history while making it safe for your family? Many DIYers share that passion, but quickly discover the challenges of old paint, especially lead.
Meet Jordan Stanfield (pictured below) and her husband Joseph – the inspiring couple behind Restoring Roots! They bought their beautiful 1890 Folk Victorian and, like many, faced the reality of layers of old, lead-based paint. After discovering the Speedheater Cobra, their restoration journey transformed.
In her own words, Jordan writes about their restoration journey.
“My husband and I bought our 1890 Folk Victorian in the historic district of my small hometown in Kentucky in 2022. I had always dreamed of owning an old home, but I quickly realized just how much I would need to learn about restoration. A few months in, we discovered the podcast True Tales from Old Houses and heard about Eco-Strip’s Speedheater Cobra for safely removing lead paint. We ordered one shortly after and have put it to work ever since! It has been essential in restoring our original windows, cutting through layers of lead paint and old varnish with ease. We’ve also used it to tackle the corners and bottom sections of our siding that larger tools can’t reach. Next up are the doors, trim, and the rest of our 20+ windows. Nearly every day we’re working on the house, the Speedheater Cobra is in hand—it’s truly one of the best investments we’ve made in our restoration journey.”
Follow Restoring Roots’ Folk Victorian restoration on social media at these links!
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Jordan & Joseph’s 1890 Folk Victorian restoration with the Speedheater™ Cobra
How One Homeowner Let a 1904 Colonial Revival "Sing" Again
We were pleased to hear from Catherine Unzicker of Illinois, who has restored a turn of the century Colonial Revival Foursquare home. In her own words below, Catherine tells how Speedheater™ infrared paint removal technology helped her to safely uncover her home’s original wood features.
“We bought a 1904 Colonial Revival Foursquare home that had been owned by the same family for 80+ years. It has gorgeous oak woodwork with dentil and acanthus leaf details, but it had been coated with lead paint in the 1960s. Knowing it was lead paint, I wanted to not only ensure the safety of my family, but also let the beautiful quarter-sawn oak sing once more. That’s where the Speedheater Cobra came in. I was able to safely remove the paint and reveal the beautiful oak below, even on the fluted columns on the colonnade. The work was quick and easy, and the clean-up was much easier than if I were to use gummy paint-stripping products. I can’t recommend the Speedheater enough.”
See Catherine’s restoration on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/the.martinhouse/
Catherine’s 1904 Colonial Revival Foursquare woodwork restoration
Your restoration journey
We’d love to hear your renovation experiences using Speedheater tools! Share your story with us via our contact form at this link.
Introducing Speedheater™ Infrared Paint Remover Kits
Discover our premium range of Infrared Paint Removers – introducing our Speedheater kits!
The Speedheater™ Cobra is the FASTEST infrared paint remover on the market – perfect for stripping doors, windows, spindles, tight spaces, furniture, and more.
The Speedheater™ Standard 1100 works great on large paint stripping jobs like siding, floors, doors, window frames, and porches.
The Speedheater™ Rapid Slim is second to none when it comes to straight, narrow, and flat surfaces. Works well on vertical siding, furniture, doors, cabinets, and large window sashes.
Read more! Not sure which Speedheater™ would get you best results on your projects?
Read our blog: Which Speedheater™ Unit is Best for My Project?
