Painting - Plaster Wall (a long project)

Hey All,

I need some advice.

I just graduated school and started my first real job. The point of that is this, my mom has an unused second floor apartment in her house (used to rent it out, then used it for storage). I plan on moving in here for a year or three to get my feet set financially for low rent. Problem is, it’s a mess.

There is one wall in particular that got some water damage about 6 years ago. It is plaster. Some of the paint chipped right off; there are a few cracks in the wall. I have begun getting the rest of the paint off with a heat gun and a scraper. Problem is every once in a while I put a small scratch in the plaster.

My questions are these:

1) Is there a better way to remove this paint or make the wall smooth, I believe I cant simply sand cause the cracks from the water damage brought it down to the pure plaster
2) Will spackle work on these small scratches/cracks or is there something better/easier to use?
3) What type of primer do I need to use on the plaster after I am all done?
4) Do I need to get the paint off the other walls of this room to make it look half-decent with the newly non-painted wall (after I finish this painstaking process)?

Thank you so much for the help in advance.

generally, you don't remove paint on walls before repainting. you just sand or fix areas with joint compound or spackle, sand, prime & paint.

stripping is for wood.

Any paint that is stuck well enough to need a heat gun to remove can be left on the wall. If the damaged area is chaulky [powdery] you will need to prime it before applying any joint compound. You should be able to mud in the repairs to the area where the paint & plaster a still good.

If there are water stains on the wall you will need to use a solvent based primer [like kilz] on them, otherwise latex primer will be ok.

Thanks for the advice folks.

One last question, if i am to leave the paint on the wall in the non-affected areas how should i make it blend in with the affected areas as the paint to plaster level is noticably thick? Should i just sand at those spots and try to get it taper off as best I can? I really don't want a visable line marking off these too areas.

Thanks again!

You are better off with Bullseye 123 when priming alkali surfaces like plaster. Read this (http://www.zinsser.com/product_detail.asp?ProductID=11) page.

After sanding a little You need to feather in the edges where the paint meets plaster, or if it is a small patch just fill it level to the paint-maybe a hair more and sand level.Feel with you hand for a bump. If you feel it you will see it.

lI would use either either an powdered easysand product or regular drywall compound.You need to mix whichever product you use very well it is important. I would prime before I patched[Everything does not stick so good to plaster] and again after I was done sanding. . Better to be safe than sorry.

This is just my opinion.I am sure others have their way.

I use a fair amount of Bullseye 123, but don't feel it seals water stains well at all. I would stick with the alkyd/oil primer.

Skim coat with joint compound the edges of the bad areas to blend in with the layer of paint left on the wall. Many light coats, and sand flush once built up enough. Prime all repaired areas with a high quality acrylic primer before final painting.

I thought he said water damage that caused the paint to chip and the plaster to crack. I too would use Bin or Oil based primer sealer if it is water stained????? If there is only a little use the Bin in the spray can.

I thought he said water damage that caused the paint to chip and the plaster to crack. I too would use Bin or Oil based primer sealer if it is water stained????? If there is only a little use the Bin in the spray can.
True that. I get scared sometimes I can't necessarily see the water stain, but it could pop up after I use a latex primer. My thought is CYA. :D