stripping paint from ornate coving

[mark&Kay]

Has anyone any suggestions on how to remove over 200 years of limewash / emulsion paint from plaster coving. The wall coving is egg and dart, which in some places is totally obscured by paint. The ceiling coving is a rather decorative rose and scrolling bud! however, again it is totally covered in years of paint. Any help on this matter would be much appreciated. Replacing the coving is NOT an option.

 

[middi]

Even if this was done by professional restorers the removal of years of accumulated paint on ornate cornice is a bit of a daunting task.

On the few occasions that I have been presented with this problem and without the option of new plaster casts the only compromising solution has always been to wash off dust etc, repair with new plaster odd bits, clean high spots with scourers or similar and just repaint again.

If you are presented with years of just lime wash accumulation the task is a bit easier as you can obtain a lot more of the detail, according to mow much time you are willing to invest, by simply keep on washing the stuff off with a soft brush and plenty of water.

The stark reality is that when cornice details are nearly obliterated by years of accumulated different sorts of paints ,damage etc..., especially at low levels in rooms where they also suffer more damage, the better option always is to replace the cornicing with new identical plaster casts.

 

[NT]

I vaguely recalla thread about how to do thid on the old forum, with Evelyn explaiing how to strip it, how to strengthen it afterwards and that its important to paint it with distemper not emulsion in future.

Finding the thread is another matter. I'm semi-sure she was recommending chemical strippers and much carefulness
.


NT

 

[BMcD]

I imagine there to be a few layers of gloss paint in there some where so a poltice of Nitromorse or some such chemical stripper pressed well into the detail and covered with damp paper to stop it drying out then after about 10 - 20 mins (or as long as it needs) with the use of fine wire wool and some sculpting/modeling tools for picking out the paint from the finer detail and lots of time, patience and care you should eventualy bring it back to life.
NB Make sure you follow manufacturers safety advice!

 

[Gervase]

There are no short cuts, I'm afraid. You need lots of water and even more patience to pick all the old crud out from the mouldings. Dentists' picks are ideal (if expensive), as are wooden barbecue skewers.
Be gentle, though - you don't want to get rid of the crispness of the moulding with over-enthusiasting scraping.

 

[NT]

The plaster may be quite fragile and ISTR dilute pva being recommended to use afterwards to soak into it and strengthen it up.


NT

 

[Nemesis]

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/cgi-bin/discussing/forum2.pl?noframes;read=60888

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/cgi-bin/discussing/forum2.pl?noframes;read=56665

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/cgi-bin/discussing/forum2.pl?noframes;read=63766

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/cgi-bin/discussing/forum2.pl?noframes;read=68073

http://www.cornicecleaning.com/

 

[NT]

Magic

NT

 

[mark&Kay]

Many thanks to all those that replied. Looks like I have my work cut out.

 

[Moo]

But oh - it's so satisfying.

 

[Craig]

Chap who did ours used Klingstrip which was left on for several days and then picked out with a selection of tools including a toothpick.

 

[Moo]

The wooden tools used by potters are good for picking out details without damaging the plaster.

 

[Anonymous]

I've just spent much of the last week off work removing approx 95 years worth of paint from Edwardian coving in my flat. I'm using a product called Homestrip, made by a company called Eco Solutions. I wholeheartedly recommend it as being safe to use and effective on both emulsion and older paints. It is water-based rather than solvent or caustic. It does take a lot longer though as it softens the paint gently, layer by layer. I'm finding I need about five applications per metre of coving, with an hour for it to penetrate each layer, plus an hour spent delicately cleaning and scraping back each time.

 

[Moo]

Five applications, at an hour each, is really quite quick. The stuff I used had to be left on overnight.
So the only real contest is price. Could you give us some idea of the cost per metre of coving?

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm...well I would say I need under a litre, possibly about three quarters of a litre of the stuff per metre but the cost depends on how much you buy at a time. I've been buying 2-litre tubs at £25.99 each from a local stockist in Fulham but have tracked down an Internet-based supplier (Cellande) who are able to deliver in bulk, up to 15 litres at a time. If you have a lot of coving/cornicing to do or are intending to use it for skirting boards, doors etc. as well, it would be cheapest to go for the full 15 litres at £89.98, working out at just under £6 per litre.

Full details and list of stockists at http://www.ecosolutions.co.uk/Home-BaseA.htm

 

[MDE]

You could try making your own "cheap stripper" (see post of that name) at about 50p a litre. Similar (i.e. caustic), but not quite as easy to use as Klingstrip, but a lot cheaper!