After the wallpaper has gone ...

[margaritasbythesea]

What do you do?

I have never gone from wallpaper to paint before. I was assured it would be easy . I don't think it is!

I have stripped the wallpaper from the walls of one the rooms in our new house. This was weeks ago and I did post about it now but I cannot fond the thread, so apologies if you replied then. Some of it has gone to bare plaster but there is an awful lot of old paint on it.

I have begun scraping it but it is taking an age. Do I really have to scrape off all the old paint? I think I will be here until Christmas if I do.

The man who plastered the sealing mentioned a paint (Zinsser ) which he said would. 'Go over all that,' but I put some on today after sanding but not scraping a section as a test and it doesn't seem to go over it at all.

I will post some pictures in a sec. but what do I have to do to the bits where the paint is adhered? Do I really have to scrape the lot?

Photos -the second one is a close up

@margaritasbythesea I would put up lining paper and then paint that personally. I think you'll always be able to see the old paint layers underneath otherwise. Either that or make sure you scrape it all off before painting. Good luck! House renovations are hard work 😥

I painted it all with one rough coat thinking that that would tide us over till we decided what to do. Four years later, the one rough coat has been good enough! (I am not a perfectionist)

I’m surprised the Zinsser didn’t work, although there are different types for different problems.
I had walls that had been painted a deep red which bled through everything, also a couple of areas where my paint bubbled and blistered as it dried. A couple of coats of Zinsser bin sorted everything and I was then able to paint emulsion over it with no problems.

I would also use lining paper, or get the walls skimmed

Thanks for your help.

The test I did was to scrape an area but not perfectly, sand it and apply the zinsser. It wasn't great.

I also did a bit which I had just sanded but it was awful.

I have never hung lining paper before. Is it difficult?

I wish I had never started!

@margaritasbythesea Lining paper is a much cheaper option than getting a plasterer to skim the walls. There's no pattern to match because it's plain so should be fairly straightforward to hang.

The house we're currently renovating is being stripped back completely, removing any lath and plaster (1930s build), before plasterboarding and then skimming before painting straight on. I quite often wish we'd just bought a new build 😂

Thanks. I didn't even particularly want the room decorated. I could weep!

I think lining paper too, use a thick one. I did this on a wall that had had sections cut put of the plasterboard and replaced badly looking for a leak (don't ask was new build ) and it worked a treat, you couldn't see the patches after. If you use the thick paper just make sure you use a thick paste mixed let it soak in for 10 minutes and plenty on the seams.

It wasn't a bloke called Trump who told you it was easy margaritasbythesea by any chance.
Anyhoo, another vote here for lining paper.
If the worst comes to the worst, a couple of coats of white Polycell ceiling paint should cover up most faults.

Lining paper but I'd give the wall a good sand first.
Do a test bit of lining paper on the worst bit, let it dry and see what it looks like - there is no point wasting your time and doing the whole room if it is going to look rubbish.
If that fails, get a plasterer in skim the room. It won't be as expensive as you think and you will have fabulous new walls to paint.

There’s lining paper that has a whiter side for painting. I’ve used that on poor plaster and it’s always worked well.

A skim really isn't that expensive - unless you like hanging lining paper. It's not hard but you might feel you've spend enough time on the room.

Thanks for your responses. I did another scrape and sand and test with the zinsser yesterday and it looked better so I am going to do one wall and see what I think. If not, I'll try the paper and perhaps a skim (thpugh Wales, where I live, is about to lock down again.

Still a bloody nightmare. And no. The bloke's name was not Trump but DH and he still thinks so.

You could look at 'Polyfilla SmoothOver' - I've never used it myself. It's quite expensive and you may need a special roller.

www.polycell.co.uk/tutorials/polycell-smoothover-tutorial/

if paint comes off easily, take it off. If it doesn't, leave it on.

I think you are talking about the pattern of the edges of old paint showing through, is that right?

You can flatten these by using a thin "fine surface filler" pressed on, very hard, with a metal filling knife, so it rides on the old paint and the bare plaster, and the filler is squashed into the gap. You need much less material than you think, and you can scrape off any excess that escapes round the sides before it sets.

Fine surface filler usually comes in a toothpaste-like tube. Only use it very thinly as thick layers may sink or crack.

you can wipe the filler when hard, with less than finger pressure, using an extra-fine paper. If you rub, it will take off all the filler, which is softer than paint.

A matt paint will show blemishes less than a silk. If in doubt, paint the wall with matt white emulsion before going further, this will balance out the colour and texture, and any remaining blemishes will be apparent to your eye.

Remember to use a mist coat on bare plaster and filler.

p.s.

I don't see any reason to use a Zinsser product on your walls. Unless they are contaminated with glue? Which just needs cleaning off.

We had the same and used lining paper and painted but you can still see them through it. Next time we get around to doing the room I'll have the walls skimmed which is what I recommend you do.

I was the one that was replying last time you posted. I've just now started on room 3 in our house. Living room this time...

Taking off lining paper at the moment. Looks ok from afar but at any fairly close distance you can make out lumps and bumps, especially where they've had the adhesive on the wall for the rails or whatever they had!

Lining paper isn't for me 😀

Got a plasterer booked this time to skim because it's a fairly large room

Great. Thanks for all the new information, particularly Zandana 123 for posting again.it was your pics I was trying to find.

Lining paper is still an option. I haven't been able to do anything today but will go in again tomorrow and try.

Thank you for the detailed talk through PigletJohn. I remember you being a total ace at eliminating clothes moths.