How to identify, and deal with, old distemper?

[BruisedThumb]

We live in a house built in 1935 and are redecorating a small bedroom. The ceiling and one wall have been repaired and plaster skimmed by our landlords (a housing association). They declined to skim the other three walls. So the rest is down to us.

The plan is to use emulsion paint rather than re-papering.

I've removed two layers of wallpaper and a layer of paint that was behind them. I'm now faced with a thin chalky layer of green behind which is another thin chalky layer of yellow. So I could have reached a pre-emulsion paint, old distemper, stratum!! I've heard horror stories about the consequences of applying modern emulsion paint on top of old-fashioned 'oil bound distemper' but I don't know how to identify exactly what I'm seeing. Is there any simple test?
I've heard mention of 'stabilising solution' but never used it or seen it for sale - is there such a magic potion? (I've read the threads on here concerning PVA.)
Should I just grasp the nettle and sand back to bare plaster?!?!

 

[Robbie uk]

Do Not Use PVA at any cost. !!!! When its all been cleaned off, give it a coat of Zinsser Gardz. Then it will take the emulsion paint without problems.

 

[blightymam]

Wash it off... takes a few hours and it's a messy job, but I personally think it's the best way. Sanding is even messier tho! Just warm water and a sponge did the job for us.
The two colours you have are just 2 different colours of distemper. We had blue and yellow! Good news is that painting is fine after you remove it all. We didn't use anything after we washed it off, and it's been fine but I should imagine zinsser is a good idea.

 

[BruisedThumb]

Hi there, Robbie and Blightymam,

Thank you for your posts - I'm encouraged.

Robbie, when I wrote that 'I've read the threads on here concerning PVA.', I meant that I'd hoisted in the warnings about PVA. I've read several mentions here on DIYnot concerning the Zinsser range but I'm not familiar with their products. My 'wrinklies' card and I took a walk around our local B&Q this morning but Zinsser didn't leap off the shelves and hit me then - should I look in the local builders' merchants? Our local chain of decorating shops is Brewers, I'll have a look in the local branch tomorrow morning.

Blightymam, thanks for the tip about washing instead of sanding, that hadn't ocurred to me. I've been trying to minimise the use of water (well, of steam, actually) because I suspect that too much moisture isn't good for the bond between our ancient plaster and the brickwork behind it! Still, a carefully applied wash sounds preferable to clouds of sanding dust!
I'll report back on my progress in the next few days.

 

[blightymam]

Uh-oh, carefully applied wash?! I have a sneaky suspicion that I may have underplayed the washing off!! Sorry, but it does take a lot of water, and forever walking back and forwards getting clean water as well as putting down some old sheets running along the bottom of the wall we were washing. While about 70% of ours washed off very simply, with a few wipes, there was a few more stubborn parts which took more effort, a bit of dish soap, time and a lot more water! Our little bathroom, about 10x8 took around 5 hours with two of us, but that was the most stubborn of all the rooms we had distemper on - if that helps? Good luck with it all

Although I didn't use these methods, but apparently you can use a steamer or cover distemper with wallpaper paste, wait a bit then scrape it off.

Zinsser is available at Brewers and also screwfix (which may be slightly cheaper?). Am pretty sure B&Q or homebase don't stock it.

 

[joe-90]

Don't think Screwfix stock it.

 

[blightymam]

Don't think Screwfix stock it.

OH NO!! My bad and I hope the OP can forgive my lack of knowledge of everything that screwfix sells. They do sell some zinsser products, and do tend to be cheaper, but stupid me didn't know that the didn't sell the gardz product Robbie mentioned.
Thankyou Joe-90, now I can sleep well after your very useful contribution, but I will make sure I give myself 5,000 lashes first.

 

[joe-90]

Can I watch?

 

[blightymam]

freak

 

[Bosswhite]

I`ve always painted distempered walls ceilings with Stabilising solution over the years without any lasting problems.

 

[BruisedThumb]

Hi there, all,

Bosswhite, what do you mean by 'stabilising solution'? None of the shops or sheds I've spoken to recently even acknowledge its existence!

 

[BruisedThumb]

Blightymam,

I've now got a litre of Zinsser Gardz on order, promised to arrive at a local shop tomorrow evening or Saturday morning.

Following your post, I've attacked the wall in question using a piece of abrasive mesh (see photo) wrapped round a hard plastic sponge and kept wet.

Image00003

• BruisedThumb
• 27 Aug 2015

The results, so far, are shown in the next couple of photos:

Image00001

• BruisedThumb
• 27 Aug 2015

and

Image00002

• BruisedThumb
• 27 Aug 2015

I had to keep washing off the debris with a wet sponge because the debris obscures the progress. I was pleased that I was getting back to a smooth plaster surface. I'll have to revisit to deal with some of the obstinate spots.

One of the photos shows the wall above the picture rail - that's a whole enigma of its own, I think it may be eggshell paint!

I hope the photos come out - I can only see thumbnail images as I type this!

 

[BruisedThumb]

I`ve always painted distempered walls ceilings with Stabilising solution over the years without any lasting problems.

Bosswhite,

What do you mean by 'stabilising solution'? Do you have a brand name for it?

None of the shops or sheds I've spoken to recently even acknowledge its existence!

 

[Robbie uk]

One coat of Zinsser Gardz will stop the distemper from coming through or affecting the top coats of paint. B&Q don't sell Gardz but they sell BIN 123 and Cover stain. I got mine from Crown decorator store, £18 for 2 1/2 litres.

 

[blightymam]

Looking good there Bruised Thumb!