Can I skim over 1970's wood chip paint?

I am buying a house where the upstairs ceilings have been painted with the 1970's paint which had I think wood chip in it to give a textured ceiling. Can this be skimmed over? Its not woodchip paper its actually within the paint.

57 Answers

Limitless Builds
0 Reviews
If its artex then yes, and if its textured paint then yes, however woodchip is very specific, I would investigate thoroughly to make sure it's not paper, I have seen ceilings that have been papered
17th Dec 2022
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Spc building/maintenance
1 Reviews, 0% Positive
Yes can be skimmed over
11th Jan 2023
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This can be plastered over, recommend applying a coat of blue grit before hand
5th Jan 2023
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BoardandSkimBS
0 Reviews
No it could likely get damp and flake off when skimming over it causing lumps. It is best to strip the wall completely of wallpaper before plastering
20th Feb 2023
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Yuriy
0 Reviews
the surface will need to be treated with a special chemical solution in order to easily remove the old layer of paint without mechanical damage to the wooden surface, after that it will be necessary to prepare the surface if it will be covered with paint (2 layers), then the surface will be sanded and polished accordingly, the recesses will have to be filled with plaster first defects with a suitable wood putty. The coating can also be made with paint emulsion, it already depends on the fantasies and wishes of the owner.
16th Dec 2022
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JBEdy
5 Reviews, 100% Positive
No... you have to remove the woodchip before plastering.
18th Dec 2022
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Built 2 Spec Renovations
6 Reviews, 100% Positive
More than likely better to overboard should you want the work guaranteed.
9th Jan 2023
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I wouldn’t trust plastering straight over it, I would over board it and skim
10th Jan 2023
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D.W roofing
0 Reviews
Yes as long as you blue grit it first
5th Feb 2023
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RT plasterers
0 Reviews
Hi there I would strip paper from ceiling as the plaster will eventually fall down. You can't plaster over papered walls
29th Dec 2022
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Yes this can be skimmed over but for the best finish overboarding the ceiling is recommended.
3rd Jan 2023
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Lycan builders
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
If we use plasters using blue grit over wood chip and then skim the next day and it will go good
Best option is to remove the wood chip if possible.

some plasterers do skim over old woodchip and if it goes well then job done. But as with my opinion and idea there is a risk of bad result .
24th Jan 2023
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Aslong as not paper the answer is yes.

Back in the older days woodchip and paint was a cheaper alternative to plastering from what I believe.

First I'd stanley an area and soak it to confirm has not been papered over for peace of mind of any complications down the line.

Also personally I would blue grit before hand,each to there own
4th Jan 2023
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Manni
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
No it cannot be skimmed over. We will need to strip and take off the whole ceiling, then replace with plasterboard/tape-joining. After that we can do plaster skimming.
15th Jan 2023
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LCM Plastering
0 Reviews
Yes, a good scrape down is required to get the background as smooth and flat as possible in order to get a great finish
31st Jan 2023
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No this would not be recommended
31st Jan 2023
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You can do you can give it a coat of bonding then plaster over the top or rebored over the top then plaster it
16th Jan 2023
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No it’s paper
6th Feb 2023
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Jp plastering
0 Reviews
Best to do a bonding coat over it an skim over there top
6th Mar 2023
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No need to remove it
13th Feb 2023
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Ps plastering
0 Reviews
No as it will blister and most probably fall off in short time as the plaster will dry too quickly and fail and eventually lose its grip and come away from wall.
7th Mar 2023
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no the bond would not work with woodchip it has to be removed before any aplication can occur
6th Mar 2023
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Kbarrendering
0 Reviews
In theory yes done right. But I wouldnt risk it
14th Feb 2023
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Tlr.construction
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
NO
Remove ceiling and reboard and skim or over board existing ceiling and slim
22nd Feb 2023
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Jack of all blades
0 Reviews
In my own personal experience with this is strip it all back and dry line the walls one its easier 2 it's less mess and 3 you can paint straight on dry lining once the filler is dried. Cuts out the hassle.
6th Mar 2023
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Personally I'd overboard and skim,or renew the ceiling at least it would be guaranteed,if you skim it probably will delamanate.
14th Mar 2023
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This can be plastered over if prepared correctly, checking that the ceiling is sound and does not have any flaking paint, ect. A coat of blue grit should be applied 24 hours prior to plastering to the seal the ceiling and give the the plaster some thing to adhere to.

If you are unsure if the ceiling is in good enough condition I recommend over boarding the ceiling with plasterboard before applying a skim coat. Thanks Max
31st Mar 2023
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No must be taken off or overboard
13th Mar 2023
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TJ plastering
0 Reviews
Yes pva before plastering
10th Apr 2023
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Always best over board you using a plasterboard before skimming that way we can all go to bed at night known the jobs safe secure and done right
3rd May 2023
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CP Plastering
0 Reviews
Never skim over wood or paint! Plasterboard of key the surface before skimming. If you don't want to overboard any surface with plasterboard make sure any paint is removed and surface is keyed with suitable bonding agent prior to skimming. (Never skim directly on any wooden material)
6th Apr 2023
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N H PLASTERING
0 Reviews
Yes the best option would.be to blue grit the ceiling 24 hrs before plastering
9th Jun 2023
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call the appropriate team to check the building for the presence of asbestos and other materials hazardous to health, do not cover anything without certainty
28th Apr 2023
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LVCA Construction
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Can be painted but ideally is to rub the surface before. Hard to tell as not have seen it myself.
10th May 2023
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Definitely not. Either remove existing ceiling or Overboard
17th Jul 2023
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SB Plastering
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
No needs to be removed
28th Jun 2023
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PL Plastering
0 Reviews
No matter what you can not please over any wall paper
3rd Jul 2023
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JB Plastering
0 Reviews
Yes you can skimover this .the work procedure is either bluegrit bonding or a decent pva bonding glue .then just skim over .
7th Jul 2023
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No you wouldn’t be able to skim over it not if it’s wood chip. Never seen wood chips in paint it sounds more like an artex if it is don’t touch it or scrape as some artex contains asbestos I’d recommend over boarding the ceiling with plaster board and then skimming it.
Hope this helps
28th Aug 2023
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sdfds
0 Reviews
No the wood chip paper needs to be removed and the ceiling primed with an appropriate primer (thistle bond-it) prior to plastering. However I do recommend considering is given to re-plaster boarding the ceiling and skim after removal of the wood chip.
28th Jun 2023
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No if you skim over the woodchip it will become damp and your full reskimmed ceiling will fell down and make a mess
You could plasterboard over it then skim the cheap way but hard work is strip the woodchip then skim over
20th Oct 2023
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PPD
0 Reviews
I have know people to plaster over it as it is so hard to remove but for the best finish start from scrach and take it back
17th Oct 2023
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Hi no you can plaster of there you will have to strip this down before you plaster because it will peal of wen plastering
5th Aug 2023
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Jb renovation
0 Reviews
If its only paint I use a glue called green grit set for 24hours then plaster straight on top .
31st Oct 2023
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Regency ceilings
0 Reviews
Well not a clear question if it’s paper wood hip take it off clean away size tape cracks pave and skim if it’s artery pva it then boat over to be safe and skim
4th Dec 2023
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Youngs plastering
0 Reviews
If it’s hard to come off yes you can apply blue grip then 2 coats of plaster
20th Dec 2023
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All the wood chip needs to be removed before plastering
20th Dec 2023
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I personally wouldn’t but would reboard or apply a thin coat of bonding over the area.
19th Dec 2023
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Adam Tomlinson
0 Reviews
Before skimming, the woodchip needs to be removed 100%. Remove all of the woodchip before plastering. If you plaster over it the water/moisture from the plaster will activate the paste under the paper and it will start to bubble and fall off
20th Dec 2023
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No the wall should be taken back to original plaster or to masonry.
29th Dec 2023
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John Hemming
0 Reviews
I would recommend going over with render mesh, bonding and then skim over. This is the best outcome, rather than having to sand the ceilings down. The mesh will allow for expansion and shrinkage of the woodchip.
4th Jan 2024
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Paxton
0 Reviews
Yes you can but before applying multi finish you have to prime
8th Jan 2024
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DM plasters
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
Opting for reboarding the ceiling proves to be the most effective solution, avoiding the need to dismantle the ceiling and create unnecessary chaos. Plastering directly over wood is impractical, making reboarding the optimal choice for achieving a clean and successful finish.
10th Jan 2024
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DRH plasterers
0 Reviews
Hi unfortunately not or woodchip paper or any other paper that is on your wall needs to be taken off back to the original
7th Mar 2024
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AW Plastering
0 Reviews
You would have to use a bonding agent (plasterers grit) then you could overskim the ceiling or alternatively plate over it with plasterboard then skim.
6th Mar 2024
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JM Plastering
1 Reviews, 100% Positive
For the best results its best to reboard the ceilings or scrape back the woodchip paint.
12th Mar 2024
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WPA Plastering
0 Reviews
Over board ceiling and skim
8th Apr 2024
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