Distemper advice please

[johnandrew]

Hi all

I have some soft distemper from Rose of Jericho that I am going to use to paint a bedroom ceiling.

Does anyone have any tips for applying distemper. I am planning to use a six inch brush. I have read two conflicting pieces of advice one which says apply in a criss-cross haphazard manner the other advising one to working in lines. And to stir or not? I'm sure the RoJ chap said it's not necessary but I can't quite remember for sure.

(Maybe I should stop procrastinating and just get on with it.)

Thanks

John

 

[Penners]

Here's SPAB's advice on applying soft distemper:

Existing soft distemper is removed by washing down thoroughly with warm water. Priming is then generally advisable, particularly on absorbent (‘hot’) surfaces where the paint would otherwise virtually dry on the brush. Clearcole (diluted size) is the normal primer, although a thinned oil-based undercoat can be preferable where oil paint is ultimately intended, but soft distemper is being used temporarily to avoid saponification.Finally, one or two coats of soft distemper are applied, working expeditiously in narrow bands to keep the edges ‘alive’. Distempering is undertaken with a large, flat purpose-made brush and during work heating and ventilation are minimised to prevent too rapid drying.

 

[skier-hughes]

My casein distemper was applied totally haphazardly, so now we are getting lighter days you can start to see the brush marks if you look closely, but if you just enjoy the new found colour of the walls, it looks amazing.
Dilute first coat 10% water, and just get brushing!!!
I bought a decent 6" brush and it was fine, with a selection of smaller ones to do the intricate bits and follow the beams etc.

Didn't stir mine.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Didn't stir my Rose of Jericho caeisin distemper either. Didn't bother to prime or apply a dilute coat - just slapped it on to bare lime plastered walls. Can't handle a 6" brush so used my normal 3" one and mostly went up and down the walls and a bit side to side. Can't see any brush strokes, doesn't look patchy. It looks fantastic, and I love it. But my husband describes my decorating as slap dash, and I say, "well at least it gets done", and life's too short for...

 

[johnandrew]

Thanks for those suggestions.

I have just found a rather interesting online book which is still available in hardcopy form. It talks about Calcimining and states:

In places where people congregate, the moisture in the atmosphere, unless the ventilation of the apartment is exceptionally good, will condense upon a painted surface and run down the walls. When calcimine is used in such situations, no unpleasant effect is seen, the distempered surface will absorb the moisture for the time being, and ultimately give it forth again without any detriment to its color.

I assume calcimine and distemper are the same.

John

 

[Flyfisher]

In places where people congregate, the moisture in the atmosphere, unless the ventilation of the apartment is exceptionally good, will condense upon a painted surface and run down the walls.

:shock:

 

[Penners]

In places where people congregate, the moisture in the atmosphere... will condense upon a painted surface and run down the walls.

That was obviously written by someone who had witnessed one of Mrs P's "chinwags" with her friends.

 

[skier-hughes]

I was told due to the large amount of absorbtion by new plaster it is best to add a little water to allow for this to stop the paint cracking or flaking