Is this distemper? 1930's house

[Stu666]

Hi all, doing some decorating in our 1930's house and we've stripped the wallpaper and old polystyrene insulation off. There's a very thin layer on top of the plaster of what looks like yellowish paint which flakes off fairly easily. Doesn't look like it was for decoration. Somebody has mentioned it could be distemper? Haven't tried cleaning it off as I don't want to disturb it if it's anything nasty (i.e. lead based) but if I lick my finger and give it a quick rub, it leaves a sticky, yellowy mess on my finger. Not sure if the plaster is original or whether it's been skimmed at a later date - not an expert I'm afraid, so can't work out if it's original to the house or not.

 

[opps]

If sticky, I think it may just be wallpaper paste.

 

[opps]

AFAIK, lead wasn't used in emuslion/waterbased paints. If the wall is coated with distemper, a warm, wet rag will pull some of the paint off. From memory, the thin polystyrene layers were glued on with regular powdered wall paper paste. That would not have sufficiently adhered to distemper (the moisture in the paste would have "reacted" the distemper.

If you plan to apply lining paper, ignore the glue, just paste over the walls

 

[Stu666]

Thank you. I hadn't thought of wallpaper paste, as to my mind this would dry clear/opaque? As I say, I'm no expert so could be very wrong and maybe it's just yellowed with age?

 

[Stu666]

Close up:

 

[opps]

I don't know what adhesive was used, Your last image is very different to the first.


I do vaguely remember people using starch based glues to apply 2mm rolls of polystyrene back in the early 80s,


Ultimately, use a bit more warm water and a rag, if the cloth is mostly clean, it is unlikely to de distemper.
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