painting rough walls

[muddie]

I pulled the wallpaper off the walls, it took some off the underlying paint with it and left some behind. I now have sound bare plaster with patches of thin paint. I don't want to put up lining paper, so can anyone recommend a type of paint which will smooth out the edges of the patches. Is Smoothover any good for this? If you are kind enough to recommend something do you also know where I can buy it on offer?
Thanks.

[carrust]

If you find a product that will smooth-over patches of thin paint, then let me know please. I think you'll have to line the walls:(

[muddie]

I forgot to add that the same thing happened when I redecorated another room: there I scraped the remaining paint off with a scraper - it took forever and vacuuming up the residue killed my dyson stone dead - so don't suggest that please!!

[carrust]

You could try mixing-up a thin mix of wallpaper paste, brush it on the wall, wait for a few minutes then scrape it off. It's worked for me in the past. And it cuts down on the elbow grease. Try it on a small patch first, before you coat-up the whole wall.

[heathfield]

Depends on the paint that's left behind. If it's emulsion or distemper you could try a steamer. But I'm with Carrust on this. No matter how well you scrape the wall, I'd think seriously about a heavy-grade lining paper for the best-looking finish.

[terence7556]

i have had similar problems with the walls and ceilings in my house, which is 50 yrs old.they are all wallpapered and i am modernising each room as i go along, taking off the paper with a steamer.in the first room i went too quickly and whilst i removed the paper and its backing i did,nt always remove the adhesive which when left behind is a real pain.
not as thick as your paint but still enough to cause a blemish when i repaint, if i didnt go back over it.
this is not much help to you this time but i sent it for the future.try a steamer but be careful as it a fine line when judging between enough heat applied and too much cracking the skim.
also for wall repairs to small cracks and marks a product called easifill is brill, green/white bags b&q �10.50 in the plaster section. dont apply it like skim, keep it high and proud, not flat.its a doddle to rub down if a bit dusty

[muddie]

Thank you all for your recommendations and advice - from the descriptions of your wall surface problems mine own pale into insignificance. A steamer and scraper sems to be working well; the evils of fine paint dust are awful and to be avoided at all cost. If it does this to machines think what it would do to us!
Oh yeah, and I found a forum which seems dedicated to slagging off Smoothover!
Thanks,
Muddie

[RATTER15]

Why not just line the walls, so easy to do and quick and a great finish!!

[rabbitygirl]

A lot of your success hinges on your scraper. Have had a similar problem in my bungalow renovation. Paper off fine but original sixties paint still stuck.
My husband (a pro painter and deccy) gave me his scraper which has a replaceable long blade in the top like a Stanley knife and just as sharp. This is brilliant at going thru anything (including fingers) but removed most of the paint from my walls with little effort. Washing with hot water helped shift it too (tho messy).
Hubby says any left will be held back with size and as we a lining anyway, nothing should show. Have seen the blades in Wickes just a few days ago so they should have the tool as well.