Background
Have stripped wall paper, walls are in quite good condition, but patches of emulsion underneath have lifted leaving bear patches.
It’s a nice house, full of character in an ideal location, so we plan to stay here forever. I know lining paper would be easier, but I don’t like wall paper or lining paper and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to get it how I want it. Time is not too much of an issue – I enjoy DIY, but money is tight.
I have done lots of research, but there’s loads of methods and lots of conflicting advice, so I want to be sure this is ok. The bits I particularly need advice on are in bold.
Here’s the plan:
1. Remove emulsion – above the picture rail is coming away easily, it’s powdery (distemper?), below the picture rail is stuck fast.
I intend to experiment with:
• Heat gun & long handled, bladed scraper
• Ecover washing up liquid
• Paint Stripper (tempted to try Strippers NB-610 - claims to remove emulsion and textured masonry paint (a job for another day)
Has anyone had good results from any of these, are there any other methods? (I have tried sanding – it’s not a good idea)
2. Fit coving.
3. Fill imperfections with Easi-fill – I have just discovered this and think it’s brilliant. Do I need to widen the ceiling cracks for filling?
4. Sand filler.
5. Wash walls with sugar soap.
6. Coat with thinned down emulsion – 4 emulsion:1 water. The walls are very old (1934) and very dry, so does it need to be thinner or do I need to add some PVA? Is Wickes Trade Contract Matt ok to use for this?
7. Coat with Basecoat to cover any minor imperfections. Is Polycell Basecoat any better than Wickes Mastercoat basecoat?
8. Coat with Johnstone’s washable matt. I have always had good results with Johnstone’s paints, but last time I tried this one it reacted with the silk emulsion underneath, is it likely to react with the Basecoat? Lots of people seem to recommend Dulux, - is it better, I have always found it a bit too thick?
Have stripped wall paper, walls are in quite good condition, but patches of emulsion underneath have lifted leaving bear patches.
It’s a nice house, full of character in an ideal location, so we plan to stay here forever. I know lining paper would be easier, but I don’t like wall paper or lining paper and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to get it how I want it. Time is not too much of an issue – I enjoy DIY, but money is tight.
I have done lots of research, but there’s loads of methods and lots of conflicting advice, so I want to be sure this is ok. The bits I particularly need advice on are in bold.
Here’s the plan:
1. Remove emulsion – above the picture rail is coming away easily, it’s powdery (distemper?), below the picture rail is stuck fast.
I intend to experiment with:
• Heat gun & long handled, bladed scraper
• Ecover washing up liquid
• Paint Stripper (tempted to try Strippers NB-610 - claims to remove emulsion and textured masonry paint (a job for another day)
Has anyone had good results from any of these, are there any other methods? (I have tried sanding – it’s not a good idea)
2. Fit coving.
3. Fill imperfections with Easi-fill – I have just discovered this and think it’s brilliant. Do I need to widen the ceiling cracks for filling?
4. Sand filler.
5. Wash walls with sugar soap.
6. Coat with thinned down emulsion – 4 emulsion:1 water. The walls are very old (1934) and very dry, so does it need to be thinner or do I need to add some PVA? Is Wickes Trade Contract Matt ok to use for this?
7. Coat with Basecoat to cover any minor imperfections. Is Polycell Basecoat any better than Wickes Mastercoat basecoat?
8. Coat with Johnstone’s washable matt. I have always had good results with Johnstone’s paints, but last time I tried this one it reacted with the silk emulsion underneath, is it likely to react with the Basecoat? Lots of people seem to recommend Dulux, - is it better, I have always found it a bit too thick?