Dark red distemper- how to cover up?

[Carol]

Have stripped awful anaglypta on stairs and found under layers of paste, half a wall of orange gloss and below this and everywhere else, blood red distemper. Have scrubbed off lots but rest of wall has a decidedly red tinge. Have considered various options but wondered if PPUKers have any other ideas.
a) keep scrubbing and repaint with modern paint b)seal with something?... c) repaint with distemper preferably pale colour, but would dark red bleed through? d) cover with lining paper

And I thought that a Victorian farm cottage would be less trouble than previous place!

 

[88v8]

Distemper - a Russian ska punk band. Hence the red.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4syjqdagmjI

If on the other hand you mean paint, presuming that it's common distemper and not the sort that is oil-bound, it should scrub off with sugar soap or detergent. Then, before repainting, apply a stabilising primer, as one would for old whitewash.

Presumably what you have uncovered is the historic foundation of the house's decoration? In which case I would certainly keep or reproduce some of it. Shame to erase the history.

Ivor

 

[CliffordPope]

They loved dark colours. Our walls (1875) are all painted in dark red, blue or green underneath many later layers of paint and wallpaper

 

[Penners]

I'm sorry to hear that you have removed the anaglypta, which can be a wonderful period feature in a house.

However, you may find this web page useful when it comes to removing the distemper:- http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/distemper.htm

 

[Nigel Watts]

Distemper made in the traditional way with whiting is very opaque and will stick well to old distemper. There should be no bleed through but you might need more than one coat. You can easily make your own distemper from whiting and rabbit skin glue (both available from artists suppliers) and can tint it with dry pigments, also available from a good colourist, such as AP Fitzpatrick in Bethnal Green. http://shop.apfitzpatrick.co.uk/pigments--dry-goods-14-c.asp

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Rose of Jericho do a product called Claircoll--it is a primer. As they are Distemper specialists it might be worth consulting their help line.

 

[Zebra]

rabbit skin glue

I didn't know rabbits needed to glue their skin on!

Getting my coat already.......
Gluing it on.......

 

[Carol]

The Anaglypta was 1980's like most of the appalling things done to this place. We are living with UPVC windows and a horrid flat roof but have removed the modern dado rails , the fake panelling and the fitted carpets! The dark distemper has come off fairly well with some residue and I couldn't live with a very dark colour as it is in the stairwell. The walls are mercifully in reasonable condition so will need just a bit of filling before painting. I went back to my local trad paint specialist in Warminster and got more distemper. The rest of half term is taken care of!

And as for rabbits we have been overrun with them, mostly tiny babies who make me jump by hopping out of the borders when I am watering. Perhaps rabbit skin glue could be a useful by-product except I couldn't bring myself to catch them. Have had to net everything to prevent bunny snacking.