Sanding before decorating - how far do you need to go?

FreeBear

ashe said: Do you prime it first or can you just paint straight over it once happy with the finish?

I use a watered down pot of paint as a primer on any/all plaster that I intend to paint.

stuart45

ashe said:

FreeBear said:

ashe said: the surface still has a strong orange peel feel to it which I was hoping to sand away. Is it easier to scrape some easyfill over the bumps with a trowel and then sand smooth & mist coat? Or am I going too far?

I've been using Knaul Fill & Finish to patch up some walls here. Once dry, going over with a moist sponge float helps to feather in the edges and take out any small humps & hollows - A lot less mess than sanding.

Wickes do a 5Kg tub for around £17, but if you shop around, a 20Kg tub shouldn't cost much more than £30.

Got this because quicker than mixing some easyfill, I've used it on a couple of holes where I've taken plugs out of, looks like I'll need a second coat as where the hole is it's shrunk back into the hole but still quick to work with. 

When filling in screw holes in plasterboard you give them 3 coats. Apply the filler in one direction and clean it off in the opposite.

ashe

stuart45 said:

ashe said:

FreeBear said:

ashe said: the surface still has a strong orange peel feel to it which I was hoping to sand away. Is it easier to scrape some easyfill over the bumps with a trowel and then sand smooth & mist coat? Or am I going too far?

I've been using Knaul Fill & Finish to patch up some walls here. Once dry, going over with a moist sponge float helps to feather in the edges and take out any small humps & hollows - A lot less mess than sanding.

Wickes do a 5Kg tub for around £17, but if you shop around, a 20Kg tub shouldn't cost much more than £30.

Got this because quicker than mixing some easyfill, I've used it on a couple of holes where I've taken plugs out of, looks like I'll need a second coat as where the hole is it's shrunk back into the hole but still quick to work with. 

When filling in screw holes in plasterboard you give them 3 coats. Apply the filler in one direction and clean it off in the opposite.

I've never had to do this with easyfill,, but fair play. I've done a second coat that has sank into the hole too. So hopefully 3rd one is the charm 😂 

ashe

Quick update to show how this ended up going 

stuart45

Looking really good. Is that a Bengal cat?

FreeBear

ashe said:

A gorgeous pair of cats.

Not interested in any of the other images, just the cats

ThisIsWeird

Really lovely, Ashe

That stairwell - with a light source at the top - demands a high standard, and you've done it

ashe

stuart45 said:

Looking really good. Is that a Bengal cat?

Yes we have 3. One is 19 years old 2.5kg girl and the other 2 are just gone a year old and nearly 8kg and both terrified of her 😂

Alanp

Lovely job there, nice cats too, hope your work passed their high standards….

ashe

Alanp said:

Lovely job there, nice cats too, hope your work passed their high standards….

They're the chief instigators of doing work in the first place 😂