Distemper(s)?

[mark482]

New to all this so go easy please

Just moved into my first house, 1935 brick semi. I've stripped the wallpaper (thick, strong patterned) off the walls with a steamer to find a reddish-brown smooth coating, maybe 0.5mm thick. This has chipped off in places and I can see pinkish-white plaster (I assume) underneath.

Searching the forums I get the impression this brown stuff is some kind of oil-based distemper? The steamer did cause it to run, and if I rub it with a (cold) wet rag it comes off rust-colored.

So, is it distemper? If so, how do I get it off? I read someone suggesting to blast it with the steamer and scrape but I'm a bit worried about damaging the plaster. Is that the way, or any other way?

As the icing on the cake, at the top of the walls where a picture rail used to be (I assume, since it's still there in one room), the surface is light grey and chalky - comes off as dust if I rub it with my finger. Am I right in thinking this is water-based distemper? If so, again how do I get this off? Sugar soap, brush, sponge??

Really grateful if anyone can help. Total novice so please assume I know nothing

Mark

 

[Zampa]

You will need to wash of the water based stuff using the metod you said then give it a thin coat of alkali resisting primer

The oild based stuff shouldnt cause you too much grief as long as it alone isnt causing the paint on top of it to flake..

Id do the whole room with aklai resisting primer.

 

[mark482]

Thanks for the reply

Quite a lot of the oil-based stuff has flaked off, some of it in large areas - can I fill these somehow, or am I going to have to get it all off?

 

[Zampa]

I would scrape off as much as possible, prime with A.R.P then line the walls

 

[mark482]

Took the plunge and started scraping... Only thing that shifts it is one of those "heavy duty" (?) wallpaper strippers with a blade. Making some progress now but it's going to be a loooonnnnggg job I guess at least if it's all back to the plaster I won't have any surprises left