Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

You could just paint on a bonding agent like blue grit prior to skimming.

We moved into our current house a month or so ago, and most of the rooms have been painted in silk paint and was peeling off in huge sheets like you mentioned.
 
Scottland said:
You could just paint on a bonding agent like blue grit prior to skimming.

We moved into our current house a month or so ago, and most of the rooms have been painted in silk paint and was peeling off in huge sheets like you mentioned.
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I've used wickes version of blue grit. I now use pva and sand. You can add a bit of food colouring as well to help see where your going with it.
 
Grrrr, went to use my router last night to cut a U shaped rebate for some alcove shelves and the bit i have won't cut deep enough. To make matters worse my router only has a 1/4" collet and all the long cutters i can find are for 1/2" routers.

I ended up using my circular saw to cut it out, but after doing so i realised that i don't actually want to cut out the full length of the sides as i want the front piece to be the full depth. So that plan is out aswell.

Anyone have any suggestions before i either A) Give up, B) Buy a 1/2" router which seems daft given how little i've used mine!


EDIT - Wonder if this would do, although i'd need to make a LOT of passes, it's also not cheap.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/trend-lon...mm/90479#product_additional_details_container

EDIT 2 - Actually looking at some of the other router bits on Screwfix there are a few around 63mm/70mm that might do. My router bits were really cheap so am hoping one of these will actually do the trick. Luckily my router is in the car so can check.
 
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I just bought the Energer one from Screwfix and it's been alright. In fact we got 2!

I did initially want the Earlex one but it was out of stock.
 
Skillmister said:
The Energer one seems better rated despite being cheaper, sounds good. Looking forward to stripping an entire house :o
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You might know this already, but if not..

Pre-soak the wallpaper. Wet sponge, and I mean wet, then apply liberally. By the time you get to the next wall it should pretty much be falling off assuming it's not been there for 100 years.
 
Nikumba said:
You can also try scoring the wallpaper to help the steam get in under the paper as well
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FurryLemon said:
You might know this already, but if not..

Pre-soak the wallpaper. Wet sponge, and I mean wet, then apply liberally. By the time you get to the next wall it should pretty much be falling off assuming it's not been there for 100 years.
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Thanks for the tips :D Most decorating I've done before is painting a room years ago and now I have a whole house to do
 
Skillmister said:
Thanks for the tips :D Most decorating I've done before is painting a room years ago and now I have a whole house to do
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A steamer isn't even required if it's just wallpaper.

For me having just stripped an entire house top to bottom.

1. Score the wallpaper, don't buy a paper tiger as they're expensive and mine broke 70% through a gutting. Instead get a rolling perforator.

2. Buy zinser dif, use hot water. Spray on and soak the wall after perforating, leave for a bit and then give another light spray.

3. Get a proper scraper as listed above, it is a lifesaver, and makes stripping the walls a breeze. On top of this it won't dig into walls and cause replastering or excessive touch ups.

A steamer you risk blowing the plaster, and if you're dealing with vinyl wallpaper, a steamer won't help at all.
 
To echo the above, I would go manual before resorting to a steam stripper if possible.

The steamers can also throw up problems if the paint is dubious below.

The worst case scenario is multiple layers of paper with some nice poor gloss painting (on edges) and / or vinyl type paints over the paper.

Stripping is all about taking your time ;)
 
Skillmister said:
It's ex-council, I'm already expecting to have to learn plastering :p
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I found sugar soaped great for cleaning the walls down of any left over paste!

Again, stuck it in a handheld pump sprayer from same brand linked above.

You'd be surprised... Mine is in a council estate although not sure it was council built... The plaster on solid walls is in amazing condition.

After two runs with sugar soap it's silky smooth like it's just been plastered
 
rexehuk said:
I found sugar soaped great for cleaning the walls down of any left over paste!
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Sugar soap and a green scouring pad or washing up sponge as well as you want to get all the bits of paste off the wall before painting. Quite east to miss bits of paste and you really notice it when you put the paint on over it!

Dave
 
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