The Art of Distempering

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1067, 3 September 1930, Page 6

The Art of Distempering

Advice for Amateur House Decorator FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS YyHEN, as a householder, you deVV clde that one or two rooms require re-distempering, or that you will use distemper instead of paper, the first thing to consider is the cost. Find out what you are prepared to pay and then you will know where you stand, writes G. 8., in “The Cape Times.” This matter having been settled, measure the rooms, passage, or whatever space it is desired to distemper, in order to ascertain the quantity of material it will be necessary to obtain. At the same time, if it is not known, find out what was on the wall before. If these steps are taken before ordering the material, a lot of time and bother will be saved. The next step is to go to a paint merchant and there choose the colours. There are several qualities of suitable material, most likely three grades of dry distemper, a paste distemper and a water paint. It is here that the particulars you have taken down come into use. Tell the salesman the size of the room and what was previously on the wall. He will then be able to give you the correct quantity and advise what material to use. A good distemper cannot be put on a cheap one, the reason being that the cheap distempers are not very “fast,” and thus do not grip the wall securely. If a good material is applied it can only stick to the old covering, which would part from the wall with the new distemper on it. The good material is at once blamed, the indignant purchaser declaring it to be no good at all. Distemper cannot be used successfully over lime for the same reason. Even if the lime is quite fast, certain chemical effects are often detrimental to the distemper. If distemper is used be sure to wash the wall well with water, in which some washing soda has been mixed, before applying. ALWAYS USE THE BEST Where a good material hae been used before, stick to it, it will pay in the long run, and make altogether a better job. This also applies to new walls; always use the best that can be afforded. A packet of dry distemper will be enough for a small room, 10 feet x 10 feet, two coats. Only mix enough powder for the work just to be done, because if left standing overnight it will set hard and become useless. When mixing, water should be gradually added to the powder until the right consistency is reached; do not add the powder to the water. Paste distempers and water paints are also mixed with water, but will keep for some time after being mixed, if covered over. About 141 b is enough for a small room—two coats. It is preferable, if it has been decided upon to lime wash, to mix the lime a week or so before use. Shell lime is mixed with coarse salt and water, about 101 b of salt to 1001 b of lime, until of a creamy consistency; the mixture being thoroughly stirred. If at the seaside, sea water can be used. Unslaked lime is mixed with tallow, and should, if possible, also be mixed a. few days before use. The lime is put w-ith tallow into a drum and water then added, causing the lime to get very hot, thus melting the tallow; 51b of tallow is sufficient for 1001 b lime. A little salt, say, 51b, can also be added. Do not forget to add the salt, or tallow, as the case may be, as they are used to “fasten" the material. The amateur painter often disregards brushes. Any old brush, such as an old lime brush or paint brush, will not do. Lime brushes are too coarse and leave marks on the wall, while paint brushes make the work tedious owing to their narrow width. A five or six-inch brush, one especially for distempering, should be used; this will be found to be a most convenient size. SPECIAL BRUSHES An ordinary distemper brush should not be used for lime; the lime “eats” the bristles and destroys a good brush. Purchase one of the fibre brushes specially sold for use with lime. Order the goods required before a painter is engaged, as they might not be sent out immediately, the result being that the painter has to be paid for doing nothing; this causes endless annoyance, both to the purchaser and the firm, who in vain explain that the delivery van had left before the order was received. s Particular care should be taken to prepare the surface of the wall properly before applying the distemper. Wash down well to remove all loose scale, dirt, and so on. Cleanse greasy surfaces with soap and water, adding a little borax to the -water, and sponge with clean water. Fill up cracks with cement- coloured with the material to be applied,- or if dry distemper is used mix a little powder intq. a thick paste. Be sure to let the cement set hard before covering. When the work is completed hasten the drying by opening windows and doors to allow free circulation of air. Do not work too slowly, and always read the instructions printed on the label or packet before use. You may think it better to do it your way but don't. LARGE WINDOWS The Continental architects are introducing very large windows in some of their domestic and public buildings. Tho window framework is in reinforced concrete, with many divisions as if to form relief from the severelv plain walls. These windows can be very beautiful, and in some measure echo the pierced and glazed lattices. When filled for churches with small coloured glass designs—not necessarily Biblical subjects or stories, but pure design tending more directly toward pure decoration—form the modern expression of some of the best of the old teachings. Women always nowadays want their pane curtains pretty and flimsy, fabrics that will let the sunshine ad light through. If they want velvet, taffeta, or brocade for richness, or heavy materials such as used generally to be sold 40 years ago, then they have them right at the side of the window where they cannot keep back light or health-giving sunshine.