Schoolmarm
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I found all the answers here http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/lwdistempers/lwdistempers.htm
Hope it is accurate. :roll:
Hope it is accurate. :roll:
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JoceAndChris
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A very good link 'Marm to iron out any confusion between the two. Keith's tip of having the cloths to hand applies equally though - this is messy stuff! And also I'm glad Joss said not to worry about how it looks initially as the colour dries in.
Soft distemper feels a bit like a mud pack on my skin, I'm covered in the stuff now. Certainly not unpleasant, though as this one contains anti microbial agents and fungicide it's probably best to wash it off ( if I had water - I think I'll give myself a light sand later on!)
It's a lovely paint, I'm just a little way into this job as three coats will be needed but I can already see the finish is totally different to Estate Emulsion.
Soft distemper feels a bit like a mud pack on my skin, I'm covered in the stuff now. Certainly not unpleasant, though as this one contains anti microbial agents and fungicide it's probably best to wash it off ( if I had water - I think I'll give myself a light sand later on!)
It's a lovely paint, I'm just a little way into this job as three coats will be needed but I can already see the finish is totally different to Estate Emulsion.
Schoolmarm
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So is it going on the ceiling and/or moulded plasterwork? That is what Rose of Jericho say is the use for soft distemper.
jocelyn plummer
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I used distemper on the walls and ceiling, even ,in one house, covering estate emulsion after an application of Claircolle which ROJ recommended.
Joce, it will be well over a week before you begin to see the true delights of a distemper finish.
Joce, it will be well over a week before you begin to see the true delights of a distemper finish.
skier-hughes
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and if our house is anythig to go by, after the second week there are so many splashes of things over it that you may as well not have bothered doing it 
jocelyn plummer
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Come on Joce, how's it going!!!
JoceAndChris
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Very well thank you! One coat is up - began the second today but then my time has been taken by the gardener and the fencers.
I really like it; it's like a moist cheese.
I really like it; it's like a moist cheese.
jocelyn plummer
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Never play with Gardeners and Fencers Joce, very dangerous. Ceiling as I expected, jolly dee.
jocelyn plummer
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Ah well, and assuming Joce is still making good progress with her dining room, I decided to follow suit. This is a humble Victorian artisan's house, unfettered by listed status, and converted into one from 3 smaller cottages I am not mad keen on spending out on expensive paint finishes. The dining room is quite dark and my preferred colour choice is dictated by the carpet we brought with us, so I tested the classic cranberry which matches the laura ashley curtains--too dark. Could not be bothered to try endless matchpots, so found a piece of fabric that is a perfect creamy shade. I trotted along to Brewers where a most obliging fella scanned the fabric, asked me what kind of finish I wanted, and after a really good chat about paints and paint finishes in general, and the light aspect of the room we decided to go for a soft sheen from their Albany Range. We will see------ nearly £30 cheaper than any paint product I have ever used, so I hope I don't get what I paid for---- I'll keep you posted ----
jocelyn plummer
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Well, I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by the finish. The fabric colour matching was pretty good too. Off to get some eggshell with my '£5.00 off' Brewer's paints voucher. Will try to get pics when the light is good.
JoceAndChris
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Do post pics Joss - I'd be interested to see!
I've struggled like crazy with distemper in Tuscan Red but at last am having a breakthrough in understanding. Everything I usually do with paint can't be done. I spoke to the people at R of J as my first attempt looks terrible - all brush strokes and uneven, and previous stains and tide marks showing through, even after 3 coats and a week of drying. The walls are so porous any moisture disappears immediately, leaving a chalky pigmenty dust that is barely red. R of J said mist the walls prior to painting, mist during painting, use a huge brush and go in every direction. I've done that and it's looking slightly better, ( though I won't be able to fully know until Thursday by which time it will have had 3 coats) but I can see why breathable paints got ditched. I'm really not sure I'm going to be able to use soft distemper here. And if limewash behaves like this on the outside of the house. it would take forever.
The bit I'm talking about is the section of red above the plate shelf - the ceiling is finished and looks a bit rough but being white gets away with it. Even so, I far prefer the FnB estate emulsion ceiling in the adjoining room, which took a fraction of the time.
I've struggled like crazy with distemper in Tuscan Red but at last am having a breakthrough in understanding. Everything I usually do with paint can't be done. I spoke to the people at R of J as my first attempt looks terrible - all brush strokes and uneven, and previous stains and tide marks showing through, even after 3 coats and a week of drying. The walls are so porous any moisture disappears immediately, leaving a chalky pigmenty dust that is barely red. R of J said mist the walls prior to painting, mist during painting, use a huge brush and go in every direction. I've done that and it's looking slightly better, ( though I won't be able to fully know until Thursday by which time it will have had 3 coats) but I can see why breathable paints got ditched. I'm really not sure I'm going to be able to use soft distemper here. And if limewash behaves like this on the outside of the house.
it would take forever.The bit I'm talking about is the section of red above the plate shelf - the ceiling is finished and looks a bit rough but being white gets away with it. Even so, I far prefer the FnB estate emulsion ceiling in the adjoining room, which took a fraction of the time.
Sue Wilkinson
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I love breathable paints, RoJ soft distemper in the bedroom is perfect, though ready to be done again now. Lime paint in the sitting room. Lime wash on a bit of barn. Desperate to try Earthborn clay paint, destined for utility when I can.
I've decorated other people's houses with Albany and F&B and all sorts of cheap stuff. I don't like the look of any of it, too even, or too thin in some cases. But on my humble abode the brush strokes, marks and patchy look is perfect and all the natural paints change in different light which I also love.
Each to their own though. Woodwork is harder. I quite like Green Paint's wood offerings. Wears well and looks nice. Takes longer to dry though.
I've decorated other people's houses with Albany and F&B and all sorts of cheap stuff. I don't like the look of any of it, too even, or too thin in some cases. But on my humble abode the brush strokes, marks and patchy look is perfect and all the natural paints change in different light which I also love.
Each to their own though. Woodwork is harder. I quite like Green Paint's wood offerings. Wears well and looks nice. Takes longer to dry though.
JoceAndChris
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pleasy pleasy please some pics of where you've used Soft Distemper in your house. I need some inspiration, or might lose the will to live with this wierd stuff!
Despite cursing it I am going to use it even though FnB is so much easier and cheaper.
Despite cursing it I am going to use it even though FnB is so much easier and cheaper.
Sue Wilkinson
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JoceAndChris said:
OK. I have pictures, not great, they were from my first camera phone, 1 pixel per inch, and 2 from today but the light is all wrong in there now.
In this batch you get how it started (I just intended to remove some flaking emulsion) and 2 of the finished room. I repaired everything in here, nothing was removed or added, so before someone shrieks at the plasterboard partition wall, that in itself is pretty historic, like no modern board I've seen, and part of that wall is not even that, but a sort of hardboard. I choose to keep as it was because it's quirky.
Those beams were glossed before!
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Sue Wilkinson
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JoceAndChris
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Oh, it looks lovely Sue. I'm not sure I've seen any photos of soft distemper before, so I really do appreciate you posting those. The second to last pic shows the lovely mottly faded colour especially - the look I was going for. I'll post my work in progress and you'll see why I've been so distressed - it's not gone on like yours at all.
You've obviously poured a lot of love and care in and it looks great.
You've obviously poured a lot of love and care in and it looks great.
jocelyn plummer
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I promise you will like soft distemper Joce,--it's a pity that I do not have the Burnham Market house pictures on line-- the distemper finish in the drawing room showed up really well in the estate agents details. I'll see if I have a spare hard copy--- I really do not like my budget saving paint finishes nearly so much, although I am content with the recently painted dining room in Albany-- I've tried a picture of that room but the light is really bad and does not show the colour at all .
Another finish you might like ois Francesca's Chalky emulsions, I 've used those too, and been pleased. her colours are based on Norfolk light, amongst other places.
Another finish you might like ois Francesca's Chalky emulsions, I 've used those too, and been pleased. her colours are based on Norfolk light, amongst other places.
JoceAndChris
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Francesca's chalky sounds so pretty - I must try. What a pity you couldn't get good light for your pics Joss, keep trying! And yes, I'd love to see the past pics.
This one might show you some of the issues I've been struggling with:
The ceiling is done in R of J distemper and picking up pink which I'm not happy about - the colour is buttermilk but it's not looking very butter-milky. One more coat will go on. The cornice isn't done. I don't know what to do about that. The red is R of J "Tuscan Red", three coats, with plenty of drying time. Those brush strokes are all wrong. The plate shelf is Farrow and Ball "Matchstick": I'm finding it hard to cover the green under it,it's had 2 coats and I think needs two more. Below the plate shelf will be FnB wallpaper in that same red.
All a bit depressing, at this stage.
This one might show you some of the issues I've been struggling with:
The ceiling is done in R of J distemper and picking up pink which I'm not happy about - the colour is buttermilk but it's not looking very butter-milky. One more coat will go on. The cornice isn't done. I don't know what to do about that. The red is R of J "Tuscan Red", three coats, with plenty of drying time. Those brush strokes are all wrong. The plate shelf is Farrow and Ball "Matchstick": I'm finding it hard to cover the green under it,it's had 2 coats and I think needs two more. Below the plate shelf will be FnB wallpaper in that same red.
All a bit depressing, at this stage.
Sue Wilkinson
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Hmm, that's not at all right. Have you sent the pictures to RoJ? I would.
I am not surprised you are finding it hard to cover a dark colour with a modern gloss or eggshell. A lot of the opacity of old paint came from now banned fillers. I find all modern paints thin in this way. The trouble with lots of layers of modern paint is that it builds up fast and you loose detail. Perhaps a stain blocker first would have helped, but now you just need to keep going.
Take heart. Something will turn up, and get that photo to RoJ and ask for an explanation.
I am not surprised you are finding it hard to cover a dark colour with a modern gloss or eggshell. A lot of the opacity of old paint came from now banned fillers. I find all modern paints thin in this way. The trouble with lots of layers of modern paint is that it builds up fast and you loose detail. Perhaps a stain blocker first would have helped, but now you just need to keep going.
Take heart. Something will turn up, and get that photo to RoJ and ask for an explanation.