Woodchip

[val-sis]

Has anyone got a solution on how to remove painted woodchip from walls. The last time I did this I used a steamer, which was ok until I reached the last wall, and then managed to blow the plaster, which resulted in a plastering job, which cost shed loads. The plastering in this house is pretty dire, so am reluctant to do the same again.Help !

[Lakitu]

I find that using a steamer will only crumble the plaster if the plaster was bad anyway.

Take a stanley knife and score the paper several times, use warm soapy water and soak the wall with a sponge, let it seep in and start scraping.

[val-sis]

Thanks Lakitu, will try this, although, before I used the steamer last time, I did score the walls and soaked, but maybe not long enough, cos it didn't seem to get me very far..(2 hours and lots of swear words later, I gave up and succumed to a steamer). This room has got a shiny paint on it, so I'm guessing it isn't going to be easy either.

[carrust]

Do what lakitu said, but instead of putting washing-up liquid in the water, put some wallpaper paste in it. Make-up a thin mix to the consistency of pancake batter, brush it on the wall, then leave it for about an hour. Then go and repeat the operation. Then scrape the woodchip off.

[val-sis]

Thanks carrust, that sounds good, will have a go at that.

[heathfield]

For helping to strip any wallpaper, and especially if it's covered in gloss paint, I'd use one of these.
Beats using a Stanley knife any day!
A couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a couple of pints of water will greatly improve the soaking process. The vinegar acts as a wetting agent, allowing the water to soak in more quickly and spread further into the paper than just water on its own.

[val-sis]

Thanks heathfield, the contraption looks pretty lethal to wallpaper...will look into that one.