Cornice questions!

[smallpotato]

Hi there,
I posted about our cornice 2 years ago, when I started stripping it. 2 years and a baby on, I'm still at it!

So, could any experts help me with some questions?

1. We stripped one room 2 years ago, but it's not perfect, and I don't think it ever will be - it's dusty, and there are places where I haven't got out every last bit of distemper. It needs sealing in some way before it's repainted. What can I use to seal it with?

2. Once sealed, what should I use to repaint it with? Is emulsion ok, or should I use distemper? Does it need to be sprayed, or can it be brushed? Any paint recommendations?

3. In another room, parts of the cornice have come down as I've cleaned it (a thick plaster slurry had been applied, and may actually have been keeping the mouldings up). What can I use to stick the mouldings back up with?

4. I still need to clean the mouldings that have come down. I'd thought of soaking them and then chipping away once they're really wet, but I read somewhere that you shouldn't completely soak plaster mouldings as they can then start to break down - is that correct?

Sorry for all the questions - I've just got some energy back for this task, and I REALLY want to get it finished before Christmas now!

Thanks!

 

[Moo]

Four important questions and so far no replies.

I'm afraid I can only be helpful on one of them: definitely don't use emulsion. Limewash or distemper would be best; something that it will be possible to remove easily should it build up over the years.

Others will be able to give you much more expert advice, but at least this should bump your message to the top of the page for a while.

Good luck.


ps
Nemesis has just posted a useful link at the end of Skier-Hughes's thread about his windows (http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5760&highlight=peter+maitland+hood)

 

[smallpotato]

Thanks Moo - anyone else able to help?
Good tip on not using emulsion - though actually it came off beautifully, and the distempery stuff was WAY more difficult!
Had thought of using stuff from Womersleys (Aglaia paints) - anyone got any experience with them?

 

[biffvernon]

Good paints and you'll get good advice from the very knowledgeable Mr Womersley. I went on one of his paint courses a while ago.

 

[Pford75]

1. We stripped one room 2 years ago, but it's not perfect, and I don't think it ever will be - it's dusty, and there are places where I haven't got out every last bit of distemper. It needs sealing in some way before it's repainted. What can I use to seal it with?

It will only need sealing if you try to use emulsion over distemper or limewash. Although it may seem 'dusty', fresh distemper should cover fine.

2. Once sealed, what should I use to repaint it with? Is emulsion ok, or should I use distemper? Does it need to be sprayed, or can it be brushed? Any paint recommendations?

As others have said, use distemper or limewash. I know others on this forum have had different experiences, but I have always been pleased with Farrow & Ball Soft Distemper (not casein distemper). This looks better brushed on and even better if you do the whole ceiling with it

3. In another room, parts of the cornice have come down as I've cleaned it (a thick plaster slurry had been applied, and may actually have been keeping the mouldings up). What can I use to stick the mouldings back up with?

If it is just a small repair, I would suggest artex or even ready-mixed coving adhesive. Others will advise you on more traditional methods, but if it's just a couple of small sections, I would venture that this solution will be fine.

4. I still need to clean the mouldings that have come down. I'd thought of soaking them and then chipping away once they're really wet, but I read somewhere that you shouldn't completely soak plaster mouldings as they can then start to break down - is that correct?

I wouldn't soak them (assuming they are all plaster and not carved timber). Depends what they have been covered with. Distemper/limewash should remove easily with a damp sponge and a wooden artists tool (like a large toothpick). I have had some success with a steam stripper (just don't apply directly or for too long...but if you have some emulsion on the cornice, steam helps lift this away from the detail)

 

[smallpotato]

Really? I don't need to seal it?
The thing is, I have used a chemical poultice on it (Klingstrip, I think) - though that may be irrelevant, since it only got the emulsion off, and there was up to half a centimetre of other plastery stuff to come off afterwards.
I'm concerned about staining...

 

[graypark]

re staining, others have used spray-on stain blocker. Re sealing, if the surface is very porous either wet before painting with distemper or use a dilute solution 10:1 of hide glue (made from rabbit hide glue granules soaked in water - 2g to 10 ml - and heated to dissolve). But worth just trying with distemper initially on a small patch. Should be easy to wash off if it turns out you do need to seal first.

 

[Moo]

This may not be relevant to you, since I used a poultice system called Peelaway, but the instructions were really emphatic about neutralising the surface when the paint had been removed.
I used bog-ordinary pickling vinegar, diluted, in a garden sprayer. The house smelt disgusting for a few days, but we weren't living in it at the time.

I rather liked the effect of the raw old plaster, so I've never bothered to paint it. And I've got used to the gaps where the odd egg or dart fell off.