Preparing a ceiling

jollyme

Does anyone have any experience/advice? After several hours of hard work I have now manage to remove the painted woodchip from my ceiling.
So what happens next ? I had thought that I could paint it and have a lovely smooth painted ceiling. However, the ceiling seems to have undulations and some cracks and is sticky from the paste from the wallpaper - I thought I'd removed. I am trying to keep costs down and so reboarding or skimming are not really where I want to go, Does anyone have any helpful suggestions/ideas/experiences.
Thanks

wallbash

If re boarding and re skimming is out . You still have a 'mucky' ceiling what about re papering. ( not woodchip)

jollyme

I'd wondered about that. But also wondered what the best way to clean the ceiling would be? Sugarsoap?

misgrace

You need to wash your ceiling down with Sugar soap if your going to paint, if your going to paper, or line the ceiling, then you dont have too, all you have to do is due the usual prep and sand down, then paper.

jollyme

Just wondering what it is that you mean by the usual prep - as you can see I'm a birt of a newbie at the decorating

misgrace

You say on your post that you have cracks, so you would need to open them up a bit, then fill and sand.
But I would suggest you wash ceiling down first with the SS to get rid of any paste residue, as that will contimate the paint, which in turn will cause a cracking or crazing when you apply the paint.
After you have washed it down, open up the cracks, then fill using a powder filler, not the readymade stuff, when filler is dry, sand down, and if there is still like an indent in the crack, fill again and sand.

before you start your rolling, thin down a little of your emulsion, just pour some into an old plastic dish or container, add some water so the paint is slightly runny, then dab with your brush the paint onto where you have filled, let it dry, and do it again.

Now you will be ready to paint/roll your ceiling.

Another tip, for your first coat, dont use straight from the can, just thin down about 10%, this will get you better roller felxability, plus the paint will go on smoother.
For your subsequent coat, still add a tiny bit of water, and stir of course, again this will make like easier for you when you roll.

Any problems, send me a PM.

wallbash

Clean , fill , rub down . fill . sand etc etc

Paper , its cheap .

Ps if worried about papering a ceiling , don't worry'

Same a doing a wall , except you have to defeat gravity !
Professionals will laugh their socks off , but I had my wife standing behind me holding the folded paper high as she could .

Told you that would make them smile .... but I got the job done.

Gloomendoom

Mrs Gloomendoom is going through this exact same process at the moment. However, she has found that the sugar soap is a complete waste of time as far as removing the old paste deposits is concerned. Elbow grease seems to be the best solution, together with nylon scouring pads and plain water.

She still hasn't finished.

savemoney

I got mine to do this year too not looking forward to removing old paper on ceiling its the apprehension of not knowing what ceiling is like, I know its been patched up hence why I want to remove the paper on ceiling

Plasterer

jollyme wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience/advice? After several hours of hard work I have now manage to remove the painted woodchip from my ceiling.
So what happens next ? I had thought that I could paint it and have a lovely smooth painted ceiling. However, the ceiling seems to have undulations and some cracks and is sticky from the paste from the wallpaper - I thought I'd removed. I am trying to keep costs down and so reboarding or skimming are not really where I want to go, Does anyone have any helpful suggestions/ideas/experiences.
Thanks

What type of ceiling is it? Plasterboard or Lath? My first suggestion would always be re skim it - however sounds like your on a tight budget.
Move with EXTREME CAUTION - If your ceiling is made of lath and plaster DO NOT "Rake" out the cracks - you will destroy the "key" behind the lath and then you are in trouble as it will need plastering and probably overboarding. If it is boarded and skimmed - it will be fine to "rake" out the cracks and fill them. Do you have any pics?

jollyme

Hi Plasterer, the ceiling is plasterboard in a 1970's house. The room is large - and it is split level with a height difference the equivalent of 4 steps. Beginning to wonder about the reskimming option - any ideas as to how much this might cost?