What is on my walls?

Remains of lining paper ?

If it's powdery and comes off on your hand (fnarr) it's probably distemper. Wash it off with sugar soap then carry on as usual. PVA wouldn't hurt, when it's clean.

Si

Could be distemper. It's certainly paint of some sort - and it's pretty flaky, and will curl up at the edges if you paint over it.

It really all needs to come off. It can be removed with a scraper, but it's quite time consuming. You need to re-sharpen the scraper fairly often. If you take your time, and don't make too many gouges, you can then touch up any rough bits or cracks with Pollyfilla and then sand and paint it, and it will be fine.

Why bother removing it?

Mary

It could be a build up of many layers of wallpaper paste and size, and it should be able to wash off with a strong solution of sugar soap. It might be easier, and leave a nicer finish, if you hung lining paper on the walls before painting them.

Thanks for all the replies. I now don't think it is distemper as it is too hard. It may be, as one of you say, remnants of old paste and size. Will get the paper off and try strong sugar soap mix.

Trying to shy away from lining paper as I really like the plain walls so the last resort would be to skim.

Cheers

Mary Fisher wrote

Because it's uneven and powdery and no paint or wallpaper will stick to it properly. It can be sealed with PVA but that doesn't last for ever and it's still uneven. The best thing to do is remove it.

And I found the best way is with a steam stripper and a scraper, doing small bits at a time while it's still hot. For the residue after scraping, lots of hot bubbly water and a nylon washing up scourer pad does the job nicely.

Peter

Sounds like a lot of work! Good for you.

We painted the existing wallpaper when we moved in over forty years ago and every now and again give a new coat or a wash (it's all gloss). I've had my fill of scrubbing down bare walls in other houses. Make sure you do a good job which will last you out :-)

Mary