How to paint

[Harry028]

Hi.

I'm redecorating a room that once had wallpaper. I have stripped all of this off and filled in cracks and sanded down the wall but there is old paint still there from god knows when. Do I need to apply a base layer again or can I just paint over this as if it were a normal painted wall?

Thanks!

 

[JohnD]

how old do you think it is? If you wet it with hot water, does it smell?

 

[Harry028]

how old do you think it is? If you wet it with hot water, does it smell?

I haven't tried that so I don't know. If it does smell, could that be lead paint?

 

[JohnD]

No, but depending on age, it might be distemper.

You need to remove all paste and glue, I find hot water and a wide scraper gets it off.

 

[Harry028]

No, but depending on age, it might be distemper.

You need to remove all paste and glue, I find hot water and a wide scraper gets it off.

Sorry, we seem to be at cross purposes here. I have already removed the glue and paste. The wall underneath the wallpaper has paint that maybe some years old that is in patches and I wondered if I could just paint straight over it or if I need to use a base layer/primer again on the wall first?

Thanks.

 

[JohnD]

How old do you think the paint is?

The age of the house may be a clue, as might the colour.

 

[Harry028]

How old do you think the paint is?

The age of the house may be a clue, as might the colour.

I'm not sure. The paint is sort of a faded lime green, which suggests to me that it could be quite old. The house was built c. 1903. I have already sanded it down but I didn't know if there was a paint out there I could use that would cover these imperfections somewhat to make it less noticeable?

 

[JohnD]

It may very well be distemper at that age and colour. Scrub a sample with v hot water and a nylon brush. The horse glue dissolves in hot water but not in cold. It is a poor surface to decorate. It smells unpleasantly of dead horses feet, in hot water.

 

[Harry028]

It may very well be distemper at that age and colour. Scrub a sample with v hot water and a nylon brush. The horse glue dissolves in hot water but not in cold. It is a poor surface to decorate. It smells unpleasantly of dead horses feet, in hot water.

I've just looked up how to identify distemper and it's not that. It says "It is soft and dusty to touch and will come off the surface of walls onto your hands." This does not. Mine is rock hard. I guess I will need to take a photo of it to show you which may be easier.

 

[JohnD]

if it doesn't scrub off with hot water, it won't be distemper. In a kitchen or bathroom it might be oil paint. If it softens with meths it is emulsion.

 

[Harry028]

if it doesn't scrub off with hot water, it won't be distemper. In a kitchen or bathroom it might be oil paint. If it softens with meths it is emulsion.

OK. It's a spare bedroom which will become a nursery so I want to get it sorted really. Thanks for your help. I'll try and get a photo to stick up later.

 

[opps]

Hi.

I'm redecorating a room that once had wallpaper. I have stripped all of this off and filled in cracks and sanded down the wall but there is old paint still there from god knows when. Do I need to apply a base layer again or can I just paint over this as if it were a normal painted wall?

Thanks!

If you are satisfied with the quality of the wall finish, just use emulsion straight over the top. You will need to ensure that you have removed the old paste though, otherwise the emulsion will reactive the glue and not adhere properly. I tend to sand the walls with a random orbital sander but you can use a number of alternatives. Screwfix sell the Zinsser paste remover. Some people just wash the wall with hot soapy water. Some overcoat with Zinsser BIN or Zinsser Guardz.


I seldom find distemper under wall paper, largely because you can't wallpaper straight over distemper...

If you are not quite happy with the wall finish then consider using lining paper. Potentially, you will get a better finish.

 

[Harry028]

Hi.

I'm redecorating a room that once had wallpaper. I have stripped all of this off and filled in cracks and sanded down the wall but there is old paint still there from god knows when. Do I need to apply a base layer again or can I just paint over this as if it were a normal painted wall?

Thanks!

If you are satisfied with the quality of the wall finish, just use emulsion straight over the top. You will need to ensure that you have removed the old paste though, otherwise the emulsion will reactive the glue and not adhere properly. I tend to sand the walls with a random orbital sander but you can use a number of alternatives. Screwfix sell the Zinsser paste remover. Some people just wash the wall with hot soapy water. Some overcoat with Zinsser BIN or Zinsser Guardz.


I seldom find distemper under wall paper, largely because you can't wallpaper straight over distemper...

If you are not quite happy with the wall finish then consider using lining paper. Potentially, you will get a better finish.

Hi, I have already removed the glue. I used a steamer to remove the wallpaper which got rid of most of the glue and went over the walls with sugar soap solution so the glue has now gone. This morning I went in there and it smelt of damp horse but I'm convinced this is more to do with the horsehair plaster that adorns the walls still and when I sanded it down it released some of the smell! I've now taken some photos of the offending area and I'm pretty sure it's not distemper but rather the old paint. How can I remove this?? Or is it better just to have the walls re-plastered as I don't want to wallpaper it again?!

 

[misterhelpful]

I seldom find distemper under wall paper, largely because you can't wallpaper straight over distemper...

Really???

I don't know how I managed to hang probably over a thousand rolls on top of distemper then.

 

[blightymam]

Our distemper was under wallpaper too! *runs and hides*

The second pic really does look like distemper to me. The walls, although don't look in bad condition, I personally would get it skimmed. Less hassle and will look top.