Shortcuts in repainting after removing wallpaper? 'Smooth'?

[margaritasbythesea]

We have just taken down some wallpaper to find there is a thin layer of paint under the lining paper, some of it coming off, some not.

Everything I have read says we need to scrape it all off but I don't think it is going to be possible without damaging the plaster.

Years ago some workmen repaired peeling paint in our bathroom using a paint type thing called 'smooth'. They just put i tover the top and it was fine for the years until we left the house.

Looking online the only thing I can find is called Sandtex Smooth and it says it is for exterior masonry. Does anyone know if this is an option? Or what else we could do?

[Zandana123]

Sorry not sure if that product. Look at zinser paint. They do stuff for problem surfaces.

For our rooms I stripped the paper, scraped and scraped the paint off, although doesn't sound like I had as much as you. Sanded the plaster to remove fine scratches Then used filler as a skim coat kinda. Sand and fill the big Gouges again.

[Zandana123]

Here's some pics after stripping. Steamer was good to soften the paint before stripping too. Don't use a heat gun as you'll crack the plaster

[Zandana123]

Sorry forgot about wash with sugar soap to remove all trace of wallpaper adhesive. Scraping won't remove it all. Had to replace and skim a bit of plasterboard that was blown behind the radiator

[margaritasbythesea]

Ok. That is very helpful. Thanks. It looks like you took off every scrap of paint. Did it take forever?

[Zandana123]

Different room, fill the big gouges/holes (there were lots). Then skim with filler.

Plasterer in to skim would have been much easier obviously 😀

[Zandana123]

Filler pictures won't attach for some reason? Too many pictures maybe 😀

Yeh took a while and it's pretty tedious. Thing is, if the paint is adhered well you can paint over it and it should be fine, but you need to flatten the edges otherwise you'll see a ridge. Paint tends not to fill but highlight stuff like that.

I went a bit overboard and went in at night with a torch close to the wall and checked for any imperfections. Most won't stand out but the deep ones will

[Murmurur]

When I saw your title I wondered if it might be polycell smooth over, but I don"t think it is. Also, whatever you do, don't use that.

I think I'd just give it a good sand with fine sandpaper, wipe it down, and treat as bare plaster so water down your first coat. We have used watered down PVA to stabilise older surfaces before painting, and it worked very well as far as we were aware, but I am not sure whether that's still recommended.

[margaritasbythesea]

Thanks for all your help. I had a go at sanding down the paint this afternoon instead of scraping every scrap off. I also did a piece if that and I am going to do a trial run trying out some suggestions with those two areas I think.

[Notsoaccidentproneanymore]

You need to use stabilizing solution. It binds everything together.

[margaritasbythesea]

Thank you. Like this one?
Zinsser