Original Cornices and skirting boards - to prime or not

[lizziecupcakes]

Hi all

I’ve just finished repairing a few cracks in my original cornices (with a bit of polyfilla plaster). It all looks good and smooth, so I’m ready to paint the whole thing now.

It was already painted white by the previous owners, and it’s a slight yellow in some places, from aging.

Do I need to use paint primer over the cornices first, then paint it white? Is there a special cornices painting brand I need to use?

Also, I have skirting boards, also already painted and yellowing with age. It looks like it’s only got one layer of paint, it’s quite thin. Should I sand this down a bit, then prime and paint? I was hoping to avoid removing the old paint. Can I just paint over it?

Thanks for your help!

 

[phillc]

Assuming you have something like Victorian plaster cornice - the straight ones were often just cast and run in situ as the ceiling was put up - then no, whatever you're doing your ceiling with will be fine. For practical purposes, avoid gloss or bitumous paint or anything else whacky - pity the next person coming along. "Emulsion", just like the ceiling.

For the skirting boards, if you don't know otherwise (e.g. defo stripped then painted in the last 20 years) then assume the paint has lead in it. If it is in otherwise good condition a good wipe down with sugar soap or light keying with wet and dry paper (obviously, keep it wet), wash off, prime and undercoat (a tin that does both is fine) then on with the topcoat. If it is not in otherwise good condition, either get a lead test done and do what you like if negative or use a non abrasive removal method - the HSE has advice but paint strippers or low heat is the usual way.

Whether you strip or paint over is largely an aesthetic choice.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Hi @phillc. Thanks for this.

I didn’t think about the potential of lead paint on the skirting boards. A little came away with the frog tape when we stuck the dust sheets along it. If it’s got lead in it, will it cause a problem? Any sanding near it we have worn masks with protective eye wear.

How do I get a lead test? Thank you

 

[phillc]

No, if a chip came off that's no problem - unless you ate it (apparently it tastes sweet!) It's more about breathing the dust. Masks come in different shapes and abilities to hold back dust particles. Same is to be said for dustpans and brushes or vacuum cleaners So, lots of dry sanding is best avoided if you can. Wet and dry paper actually does a better job in my opinion anyway (wipe off the gunk as you go along with a wet cloth into a bucket of water).

Strictly, there is no safe exposure limit for lead but, practically, the risk is also more in lifetime exposure than a single event as it builds up. So, if you're DIYing be sensible, avoid further dry sanding but also sleep soundly at night if you have done a bit - trust me, you'd know if you had lead poisoning. And the inorganic lead compounds in old paint are way way way way way way way less potent than the organolead compounds that got pumped out of car exhausts into all of our noses until a few decades ago. I'm a child of the 1970s. Any lead exposure I have largely comes from my father's garage

You can get lead testing kits of Amazon - whether they're any good or not I don't know.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

No, if a chip came off that's no problem - unless you ate it (apparently it tastes sweet!) It's more about breathing the dust. Masks come in different shapes and abilities to hold back dust particles. Same is to be said for dustpans and brushes or vacuum cleaners So, lots of dry sanding is best avoided if you can. Wet and dry paper actually does a better job in my opinion anyway (wipe off the gunk as you go along with a wet cloth into a bucket of water).

Strictly, there is no safe exposure limit for lead but, practically, the risk is also more in lifetime exposure than a single event as it builds up. So, if you're DIYing be sensible, avoid further dry sanding but also sleep soundly at night if you have done a bit - trust me, you'd know if you had lead poisoning. And the inorganic lead compounds in old paint are way way way way way way way less potent than the organolead compounds that got pumped out of car exhausts into all of our noses until a few decades ago. I'm a child of the 1970s. Any lead exposure I have largely comes from my father's garage

You can get lead testing kits of Amazon - whether they're any good or not I don't know.

Thank you.

The dry sanding was over bits of polyfilla we used in the gaps and cracks of our original lime plastered wall. Because the skirting boards is attached to the wall, we sanded close to it but not really over it.

The skirting boards only seem to have one layer of paint, so it makes me wonder if they’re newer.

Anyways, I guess I’ll just have to get the lead testing kits.

The thing is, I’m just thinking about skipping any sanding over them and just painting them directly. I was going to two do two layers.

Do you think this will be ok?

 

[Stevers]

Existing painted woodwork really needs to be cleaned (to remove dirt and grease), then flatted (for a key), and then washed (to remove dust). 'Flatting' is what is needed and 'sandpaper' is likely to be too coarse.

Oakey Finishing Paper is what I use (no connection etc.):
https://www.brewers.co.uk/product/NG15305J

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Existing painted woodwork really needs to be cleaned (to remove dirt and grease), then flatted (for a key), and then washed (to remove dust). 'Flatting' is what is needed and 'sandpaper' is likely to be too coarse.

Oakey Finishing Paper is what I use (no connection etc.):
https://www.brewers.co.uk/product/NG15305J

Thanks @Stevers. I bought sugar soap so will clean them first for sure.

I’ll look into the finishing paper. Do I need to use this on the original paint work? I am trying to avoid that now just incase there’s lead in it (I’ll use the lead testing strips but not sure if they’re even accurate).

My plan was:

Clean with sugar soap.
Coat with paint primer.
First layer of paint.
Gently sand/flatting.
Add second later of paint.
Never do this ever again.

 

[Stevers]

If there isn't much paint there now, what are the chances that it dates from before the early 1960s? After that the amount of lead in domestic paints was dramatically reduced and eventually eliminated. However it's not a great idea to breath in any paint dust, so masks on, flat, vacuum off, wipe - and you are only providing a key not trying to remove a layer of paint.

In my lifetime I've been subjected to lead in petrol, lead in pipes and lead in paint, you must have a much lower lead content than I do!

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Thanks @Stevers . We are cleaning in now with sugar soap and then going to key. But I have the buy the stuff first. I’m going to crack on with painting the ceiling and plaster for now as we wait for the delivery.

Almost done… we think ! (Before sanding the floors)

 

[paulc]

I painted walls, ceiling, and (some of the) woodwork here, and then sanded the door. Everything is now covered in a layer of dust...
Sanding the floor is probably a good idea before opening up the paint tins.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Thanks! We just realised this now. We are going to sand from tomorrow. Please wish us luck, we’ve never done this before eek!