u/Bucket57354

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So I’m planning on tearing out and redoing my deck next year, but for now I am just going to do the ol bandaid repairs.

Step one is getting the ancient paint off of the ancient lumber. I’ve gotten a fair bit off with elbow grease and a floor scraper, but need to take it up a notch. I was planning on getting a deck stripper gel, but realized last night that my porch is, for lack of a better word, occupied. The tenant is the cutest opossum I’ve ever seen in my life.

My question is, what can I safely do for paint removal that isn’t going to harm him or anybody else currently living under my porch? The base is fully enclosed and due to the way it is built, the joists and struts block my view from the side. Short of taking a Sawzall and cutting a hatch into the floor, I have no clue if he is actually living under there or not. I would hate to have paint stripper drip all over him or anybody else.

I’d rather not evict the guy (lady?) especially since it is baby season,

TIA :)