Distemper??

nattyt

Hello does anyone know anything about distemper? I have what my dad believes to be distemper on my kitchen walls (underneath lots of other paint!). Basically in certain places the paint just peels away. I have sealed one wall to see if this would help and although it has its still not great! My dad wallpapered the end wall but that is peeling away after only a few weeks. Its quite a long kitchen so not due to steam etc. Is it a case of replastering or is there an easier and preferably cheaper way to sort this out? Been here 3.5 years and have had to repaint the kitchen 3 times:eek:!

Thanks in advance.

tony6403

Distemper is an old type of paint. It's unlikely that you will be able to overpaint it or paper over it with any success.
Best to remove it. I gather that it can be scraped off ,rather like stubborn wallpaper.
I was told some time ago that it can be stabilised but I don't know which product would be required.

nickj_2

it can be scraped of and then wash remaining off , it is better to remove than stabilize but it can be sealed with this http://www.icipaints.co.uk/products/info/dulux_trade_primer_sealer.jsp

Errata

Distemper is water soluble. Try a steamer and scraper until you get down to bare plaster then give the walls a very good wash and seal the plaster.

ormus

a very early form of cheap paint. ie whitewash. made with lime, chalk and glue/paste.
a forerunner to modern basic emulsion.
best to remove it completely. use a steamer. or skim over the whole wall.

nattyt

I've tried to remove it with steamer scraper etc but not with alot of success. I am thinking it maybe a case of having it replastered. Might get my friends decorator dad to have a look and see what he thinks first!

Many thanks everyone! x

iQueen

The easiest way of dealing with this is to throroughly removed the dusty surface by brushing. Then seal it with 1-2 coats of Stabilising Solution - Wickes' Exterior.

Paint over with any paint you choose - I used cheap matt emulsion... no prolem.:T