Ceiling problems!

[John]

Hi,

I had my artex ceiling skimmed a couple of months ago, and just got round to painting it! I used a primer - unfortunately, misread how long it took to dry (stupid, I know!) and put emulsion on after two hours. Now it's all separated and cracked - I think it's called alligatoring or crazing?

Anyway, it appears that the only way to fix this is to get the paint off and start again. However, sanding it appears to take ages, and covers everything in a layer of dust, as well as not being particularly effective, and using the heat gun is a slow painful process, and i keep scraping the plaster and leaving marks.

So. Is getting the ceiling reskimmed an option? Is there any reason that I can't get my plasterer back in to put another skim over his first skim? Or is there a limit to the number of skims you can have? Also, will he have any problems skimming over the primer paint that's up there? (actually, 1 layer of primer, 4 of emulsion and 1 of primer, but who's counting!)

Thanks,

MT

[Rick Dipper]

The plasterer will almost certanly have a good laugh at your expence.

Rick

[stuart noble]

Happened to my ceiling. A coat of dilute pva on the new plaster would have reduced the suction and prevented the paint cracking. Or a thinner paint might have held. Unless the paint is hanging off I would try skimming it yourself with filler and a plasterers trowel. A little at a time and a fairly sloppy mix.

[N. Thornton]

No sense in reskimming. Remove anything not adhering properly, just by brushing it with a stiff brush, apply PVA, and paint.

Regards, NT