Painting Hardboard

WageSlave_3

Afternoon all,

Hoping to pick the brains of any advanced DIY'ers or professional decorators. I have reached a stage in my renovation where I have removed a lot of wallpaper and discovered that hardboard has been used rather than plasterboard. In some places I have taken this down and replaced with plasterboard which has been plastered then painted fine (I did all of it apart from the plastering). I now have a few areas including a very large hall where 50% of it is hardboard and with other demands on my cash, I am considering how best to redecorate without the cost of putting up plasterboard, plastering etc before being able to paint.

The thing is, I loathe and detest wallpaper! I know some people love it and it does cover a multitude of sins, but I simply hate the stuff! Wierdo, I know!

The question is, therefore, what's the best way for me to paint hardboard so it looks the same as a painted plaster wall? I know I need to sand down certain edge joints which are a little 'proud' and then tape them but after that, I am quite lost as to how to move forwards. I have test painted a small area with emulsion (drying now), but I have a feeling it'll not be that easy!

As I am not from the UK originally and use different terms for some things (e.g. you say crisps, I say chips!), I see hardboard as a type of processed board approximately 5 - 10mm thick with a dark brown, almost varnished look to it, which feels fairly smooth.

I had every intention of taking it all out, and I will do it properly one day, but for now cash is king and I'm probably looking for some solution that'll last 5 or 6 years.

Cheers!

Stuart

misgrace

If the hardboard has been varnished, then it has already a sealed coating on it, which showed make it easier to take the paint without sucking the paint in.
But as its been varnished, and its a shiny varnish, then it will need to be sanded down to get a key to make the paint stick to it.

If its what I am thinking, then its not exactly smooth, it will have rough areas areas, very hard to explain, but like raised grain through the hardboard.

Depending on how much hardboard there is, the best way to go, with as little prep, (ie sanding the varnish down, filling the grainy areas to look smooth).
You can buy some Lining Paper, I know you dont like paper, but this is a very plain paper, and when painted looks like nice smooth walls, but it would take away the harshness of the grain, and be much easier to paint.

LP in the UK comes in grades, I daresay you have it where your from but called by a different name, but a 1000 or 1200 grade would be suitable for your hardboard.

You can buy it from any DIY store, and costs approx £2-50 - £3.00 a roll, and easily get 4 drops per roll.

Noel80

Yes, i agree. Lining paper sounds best for this. You put it on like wallpaper. Leave it to dry overnight and then paint it like you would a normal wall.

It's tricky if you've never papered before but it's cheap so if you mess up you could start again!

WageSlave_3

Thanks folks! I'll look into lining paper... at least I can paint over it!

WS