Fear of damaging plaster coving (pics)

[MulesMarinair]

Hi folks,

I need to strip flaky paint from my coving (see pics) The bare spots were caused by me, just rubbing my finger along blisters. The rest of the paint is firmly adhered to the coving.

Does anybody have any experience of doing this before?

I'm wary of Nitromors etc damaging the plaster and I've also read about home-made concoctions of lye/caustic soda - but it would need to be a fairly viscous solution to cling to the coving.

Would be grateful for any tips at all.

Thanks,

M

 

[Anita]

As you are thankfully not having to remove loads of built up layers of paint in detailed mouldings, or any weird shades of gloss paint (as is often the case), I think that I would be inclined to very gently rub the cornice over with fine sandpaper to remove any flaky paint /smooth out the surface and then re-paint it.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I suggest wetting with warm water then a gentle rub with a cloth once the water has soaked in a bit. If a bit more oomph is needed you could try a gentle scrape with a suitably shaped wooden stick (I use wooden clay modellers' tools).

Cornices would have been decorated with distemper - powdered chalk held on with a water based size, probably made of gelatin. Gelatin size will soften with water, especially warm water.

I would not recommend any form of abrasive. I would recommend redecorating with another coat of distemper rather than modern emulsion. Distemper can be bought or made at home, and can be tinted with dry pigments if you dont want white.

 

[Nigel Watts]

It is possible that what you have is a modern emulsion over old distemper. If this is the case, the water will not easily penetrate the modern emulsion layer. If the distemper underneath is reasonably thick, it is sometimes possible to peel the distemper off without scratching the moulding using a very thin flexible steel implement, such as a small artists' dog leg shaped pallet knife.

 

[chuckey]

Covings are cast in a solid plaster that is actually very good to work with, its non fragile and can be filled and sanded easily. So don't worry about a few dings from a scraper. I would have a go with a steam stripper. Just put enough steam into an area to make the underlying distemper/lime wash soft and scrape it off. If you over cook it, it all turns to mush and won't scrape off and the liquid part runs down your arm and drips of your elbows. Done several ceiling with this method. You will find that you will have to find/make some funny shaped scrapers to get into the cracks and the concave radii.
Frank

 

[Moo]

You will find that you will have to find/make some funny shaped scrapers to get into the cracks and the concave radii.
Frank

Redundant credit/loyalty cards make excellent scrapers. A cardboard template and and a steady hand with the scalpel or scissors are all you need.

 

[MulesMarinair]

Thanks everybody, that's all really helpful.

I'll let you know how I get on after the weekend!

Thanks again

M

 

[Nemesis]

I think Strippers of Sudbury will have a poultice stripper which you can try out on a small section first, if gentle warm water washing methods don't.

A nylon pan scourer is a useful thing - the green flat ones.

Thankfully it's a simple run in situ cornice by the looks of it, without too many crevices to try to clean out.

I wouldn't attempt hot steam or anything as drastic as that, not all mouldings are solid plaster, unless a last resort. Try gentle methods first.

However, do take care to note and, if possible, retain a small section of, any previous decorative schemes and paints, for posterity!

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/interiorpaint.pdf

 

[Cloudscape]

I had some paint like this near a shower enclosure. Every time anyone had a shower, the paint looked like it was going to literally jump off. When the room cooled and the air dried, the paint went back to 'normal'. I would try a small area with steam. If the paint lifts, flick it off with a brush.

I had a wall, and a gloss-painted doorframe, where the paint had all but given up the ghost and I really didn't want to sand or chemically strip the remnants. I got a lot off with duct tape (or cheap parcel tape). Try a small area. Stick some tape on and leave it a while. Then gently pull the tape back, keeping a fairly low angle. Increase the angle if the paint resists (this seems to make the sticky of the tape work harder), but don't yank the tape off like a dressing. :wink:

If it's not working, pull the tape back along itself to safely remove it.

 

[MulesMarinair]

Hi guys,
Just posting some pics of what lay underneath - thought the colour-scheme would be of interest following the Historic Scotland link that was posted.

Thanks for all of you help with this (pallete knife, bit of steam for the stubborn bits).

...from what I've read (and recent experience), Distemper is the way forward for painting it again...

Thanks again

MM

 

[Nigel Watts]

This is really interesting. What period is your house? It would be fascinating to know what the overall decorative scheme was.

I believe we have become far too cautious and consverative with our use of interior colour and we have a lot to re-learn.

I have just read an article about Basil Ionides in an interiors magagine I bought recently at the airport to pass the time on a flight. He was an interior designer working between the wars who wrote, rather prescriptively it would seem, about how to use bold colour and I have just ordered a copy of one of his books. I hope it will give me some ideas on how to complete my dark green and fake oak living room scheme.

 

[MulesMarinair]

Hi Nigel,
I did a search soon after I moved in and the first proper record showing the house was in 1876.
There was something there in 1825, but I haven't been able to find out what...
My chimney sweep saw the house (2 story stone built detached) and said that he thought that once upon a time there had been a cottage there and then they expanded upwards.

Managed to find a photo of the bay in the local library from the turn of the century (1900, not the last one!) and it shows the house in two storey form.

Also on the search, it showed the 2nd family to occupy it (the house has changed hands 4 times including me - I guess houses didn't turnover as much back then) -
anyway, it showed the 2nd family's occupation as joiners and I think that I'm assiging all the intricate beading / architraves / skirting boards to them, though this could be standard during the period.

Anyway, Thanks for the interest. Good luck with the oak!

MM