Plastering over lead painted walls

NatB

Hi, I've started to prepare a room for plastering, on removing the wallpaper we've found the original lead painted wall. The plasterer we had lined up has said he won't plaster over this as it will blister, a test patch proved this.

Is their any sealer or primer available that is designed to seal the lead prior to plastering?

roughcaster

NatB wrote:

Hi, I've started to prepare a room for plastering,

Quote:

on removing the wallpaper we've found the original lead painted wall.

I've never come across that type of paint on walls. I know that old distemper blisters when wet,, is this paint similar? Pardon my ignorance on this one.

Roughcaster.

NatB · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:34 pm Post Subject:

When I say lead paint, it's an old lead based paint. This was under a ton of old wallpaper and is various colours. The problems start pretty quickly after the plaster or bonding is put on, very quickly the finish begins to blister but small blisters.

The plasterer just told me it was lead paint and he won't go over it as it will do exactly what he showed me with a small section. The only help he gave me was to say he had heard there was a (german?) sealer which may be the solution but he can't give me any more details than that.

roughcaster · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:44 pm Post Subject:

When you say the plaster blistered, did you mean the plaster itself blistered, or the paint blistered underneath the plaster, as happens with old distemper?

Roughcaster.

NatB · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:05 pm Post Subject:

The plaster (and bonding in another area) blistered itself, like tiny balls of dust but are in fact blisters.

roughcaster · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:16 pm Post Subject:

I'm personally baffled with this one Nat. What happens when you wet an area with a brush, or spray some water on it? Try it and see, and if possible show us a picture. If it does react to the water, then you might be able to scrape it off while it's damp, (with great care, mask, gloves etc), and that would get rid of the stuff altogether, rather than sealing it in. A lot of work maybe, but it might do it,,,, fingers crossed.

Roughcaster.

NatB · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:24 pm Post Subject:

Alright, I'll play around with it and get some pics.
Thanks.