Woodchip Ceiling: Skim or "smoothing paint"?

[wigwam12]

As part of redecorating we want to lose the woodchip ceilings esp in the hallway.
What is the most convenient way: to skim on top of it or to use those paints that are meant to cover bog cracks and imperfections etc?
Ta

 

[joe-90]

Neither. Take it off.

 

[wigwam12]

Sadly I don't own enough dynamite for that!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

No its elbow grease you need.

 

[JohnD]

1) you have got to take it off

2) it will have been put up because the ceiling is in very bad condition

so you probably end up pulling it down, and having the ceiling replastered, or having the ceiling reboarded and plastered. Pulling it down will be an interesting experience for you, and surpisingly dirty.

Start asking round for recommendations for a plasterer.

 

[Bosswhite]

Use a Steam Wallpaper stripper, (Cheap enough in B & Q and can be used for other household jobs.) Score the paper first with a DIY scorer.
You may get away with re lining with a quality lining paper
Some people used woodchip as a cheap alternative to Artexing the ceiling.

 

[wigwam12]

Many thanks for your help guys.
I have a plasterer.
removing it from the walls of my old place was torture and I only did it from 1 ceiling as the underlying plaster was crumbled.
So I ended up skimming over the rest - and it was fine for the rest of the few years we were there.

Here in the few exposed areas I can see the ceilings are probably even in worse nick and have been overpainted and patched to maintain integrity.
I agree I think the woodchip and some polyfiller patching has been used to hide imperfections - some pretty ugly as I think there used to be speakers in some ceilings!. It has since been heavily overpainted to create a firm base.

Not sure I can face the demolition of the woodchip removal so might try same trick of over-skimming.

 

[joe-90]

You'd make a good landlord.

 

[wigwam12]

Of the slum variety I am presuming?

 

[JohnD]

skim over painted paper will crack and fall off.

Ask about having it overboarded and skimmed.

 

[wigwam12]

Fair enough - thank you.
I am not trying to be churlish asking for help and ignoring it (completely!) - I was just using my experience of a similar situation which seemed to work with good effect.
It is my new family home so Landlord fixes are not what I am after.

I shall do as you advise

 

[wigwam12]

Bullet will be bitten and weekend given over to ceiling woodchip stripping

 

[joe-90]

I can see the blisters and feel your pain.

 

[rjm2k]

You might find one of these handy, I generally find that most wallpaper will come off dry if you learn to use it correctly, then use a damp sponge or steamer to get the stubborn bits left over off.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/rodo-pro-...=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area2&_requestid=962284

 

[wigwam12]

so you should Joe - all your bloody fault

Once again thanks all for the helpful constructive advice.