Removing paint from plasterboard

mjk_2

Hi,

I'm preparing to decorate our living-room and am currently removing the old wall-paper. The paper's coming off farily easily leaving bare plasterboard. However there are patches of what looks like paint on the plasterboard. This is quite flaky, indeed some just scrapes off. This leaves areas of paint wiTH rough edges which I am sure will look bad if I just paint over it (as I intended).

What's the best thing to do to get a decent finish? I'll paper if I have to but would prefer not too (wouldn't have spent days strippng the old stuff if I was just going to paint over paper!). Should I try to sand the paint patches? Or remove them with some sort of chemical? Or a hot air gun?

Or are there any other options?

Thanks for any advice.

andipandi_2

i reckon it would be quite differcult to remove paint from bare plaster board,you will probably damage it quite badly,you might consider getting the boards skimmed

mjk_2

I was afraid that might be needed. I really don't want to spend too much though - any idea how much skimming might cost? Room's about 16' x 12'.

misgrace

You have been lucky with the paper coming off the plasterboard quite easily, it looks like who ever decorated had the sense to seal the plasterboard prior to papering.

I would imagine they sealed with emulsion paint, as you still have some paint on the plasterboard, I would suggest you seal the PB with oilbase paint before you paper, if you are going to line for example or use finished paper, but if your just goin to paint over the PB, here is what you do.........

Rub down the edges of the paint, dont go too mad on the actual bare PB as you will tear the paper on the PB and then you will have to try and smooth that.
When you have rubbed the edges down as smooth as you can get, get some diluted PVA and brush that on the actual bits you have just sanded.
This will stop the paint from tearing up, or more jagged bits appearing, and keep the bits you have just rubbed from flaking.

After the PVA had dried, knock up some powder filler, and smooth that over the edges where you have sanded and PVAed.
Do it thick enough so it actually covers the paint edges, but not too thick where you have to spend edges sanding it off.

When filler is dry, again sand smooth, and again, apply some diluted PVA to these filled bits.
When dry, and before you actually start to paint the PB, get some diluted emulsion, ie the colour your going to use, and dabv that on the filled bits at least 2-3 times, then paint as normal.:D

mjk_2

Hi,

Thanks for the reply Misgrace. I think I might have to paper again after all - it will take me forever to do all the rubbing down, PVAing, filling etc. (And I'm not very patient with this sort of thing!). There's loads and loads of areas around the room that will need doing.

I'll go and look at paper and see how much that's likely to cost me, then I'll decide. Wish I'd never taken off the old paper now!

misgrace

The thing is MJK, you would still have to your prep even if you are papering over it.
Unless your going to use some thick embossed paper :eek:

All these jagged edges etc would show through your new paper, especially if you go with a vinyl paper.

Even if you use thick lining paper, you would still have to smooth the edges and fill any holes, gouges indents etc.

There is no quick way of sorting this out, unless you get your walls skimmed.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news........:(

nelly_2

mjk wrote: »

I was afraid that might be needed. I really don't want to spend too much though - any idea how much skimming might cost? Room's about 16' x 12'.

between £250 and £350