Elaborate ceiling cornices and moulded details are all too often caked in layers of distemper and old paint that have built up over years, obscuring the fine details. Once a very popular finish, distemper is powdered chalk or whiting mixed with a glue size. The problem occurs when you try to paint over it, as when it is wet it re-dissolves and comes away with the newly painted surface. If cornices and mouldings have been treated with distemper you will need to apply a stabilizing primer to bind the surface. Alternatively, because it is water-based, distemper can be removed - if you have the time, energy and a cornice worthy of display. Wet an area thoroughly and scrub it with an old toothbrush until the moulded detail becomes clear, then, using a pointed stick - a wooden barbecue skewer is ideal - scrape away the distemper from the details. Once removed, stabilize the cornice with primer. Other paint covers can be removed by scrubbing gently with a stiff bristled brush and wiping the surface with white spirit. Thick build-up of paint is best removed using a paste stripper.
