Preparing old plaster coving

[AndersonC]

I'm about to start preparing sole plaster coving for repainting (and filling of cracks etc). This isn't the gyproc stuff, it's fairly thick solid plaster stuff.

Anyway the previous owner of the house has covered this in nice shiny gloss paint which will be a pretty poor substrate for a new coat of paint.

I'm wondering whether it's worth the effort of stripping the gloss off with the careful use of a heat gun, or whether sanding it down to key it would do. Both are obviously tedious methods so I want to do whatever will provide the best end result.

What's anyone else think about the use of a heat gun on plaster coving? Are there any other suggestions to prepare the coving for filling of craks and re-painting?

Thanks

 

[Nige F]

Zinsser water based

 

[AndersonC]

Got some as it happens, is it best to score the paint carefully to allow the solution to do it's job better?

 

[Nige F]

no, maybe- clean with sugar soap solution and wash off ...that`s all

 

[AndersonC]

I've gone down the sanding route, but I'll clean it with sugar soap solution when I've finished making dust. Cough!!