Removing many layers of paint from an Edwardian ceiling rose

Counting_Pennies_2

My sister in law has just bought an Edwardian house. It is very limited in its features, but what it does have is ceiling roses, that are very detailed and it would be nice to make them a feature.

The only problem is it is caked in years of paint, that have just been layered over the top of previous layers, and the detail is very blurred.

I seem to remember years ago watching a tv programme with them removing the paint from the detailing, and getting it back to a good detailed rose pattern.

Can anyone tell me what materials are required and how I go about it (she volunteered me for the role this afternoon!)

Thanks

Alan_M_2

There are poltices available for this, which contain quite caustic chemicals and will strip a large volume over 24-48 hrs or so.

You'll need to go to a professional decorating outlet such as Brewers to find this, it's not the sort of thing available at the DIY sheds.

tomstickland

Yes, noxious paint stripper is what you want.

Debt_Free_Chick

I would be very wary about using any chemical strippers. This would be a plaster rose and there is a danger that an acidic stripper will interact with the plaster which is, essentially, alkaline (being made of chalk).

I've actually done this and it was a painstaking labour of love - not something I am likely to repeat. Having said that, the end result was absolutely worth it. You will be amazed at the amount of the detail in the stripped piece.

Here's what I did .....

Isolate the electrical supply to the light.

Scratch the top surface of paint - don't go too deep, but a stanley blade or craft knife will do the trick. Scratch it in several places in the area you're working with.

Take a spray (like the ones you use to mist houseplants) and thoroughly soak the area. Using any combination of a washing up brush, an old toothbrush or a nail brush .... scrub and repeatedly spray. Eventually, you should find the top layer of paint lifting. Once it does, you can get more water underneath and the rest will be easier to lift (easier, but still not "easy" or quick).

Once you've removed the layers of modern paint, you will probably find layers of distemper underneath. This is much easier to deal with as it dissolves in water - but it's very, very messy! When wetted, it has the consistency of a flour & water paste. However, keep scrubbing with a brush. Start to be more careful and gentle at this stage.

Eventually, you will find lumps of distemper stick to the original detail. Eek these out with a cocktail stick.

Once the rose is fully stripped, repaint it with a modern washable distemper.

Horrible, lengthy, messy job - but definitely worth it.

[Deleted User]

I owned an old victorian house in london with beautiful plaster details.

The ceiling roses were stunning but like your sister in law's house covered in paint.

I spent a total (as I counted it, very sad I know) of 36 hours up a laddder using hot water in a garden sprayer (well several garden sprayers actually as the hot water tended to kill them after a while) and a small selection of hand tools, such as screwdrivers, scalpel etc to remove the old paint.

The hot water softens the paint enough to be able to strip it away from the plaster.

The result was stunning, but I think I still suffer from neck problems because of it.

Good luck

thefellow

no no no

when i have ceiling roses to strip i always use a product called ''peel away'' will remove up to 15 coats of paint very easy to use.