Removing paint from plasterboard before tiling

[Frazer Dulson]

Hi guys,

I cannot find a decent/fully applicable answer to this anywhere! Please help!

Substrate is painted plaster board. It was painted 2 years or so ago by the house builders, trade white, so is all very sound.

Tiles are 300x600 so I’m not happy with just scoring the paint to get a key. (Done this with metro tiles for splash backs etc in the past cos smaller tile).

I don’t think I can remove the plaster board because the whole wall isn’t being done and it seems a bit extreme. So I believe my only option is to remove the paint.

What’s the quickest / least messy way to do this ?? I’ve not really quoted much time for stripping the paint ☹️

Steamer and scraper?
Orbital Sander? If so what grit
Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cstiling]

Best way is to buy cheap tubbed adhesive
Spread on the wall leave it 15/20 mins ,
Then scrap off,it will bring all the paint with it .
Slightly messy but if you scrape into a bucket or tub it's the best way.

 

[Tile Shop]

Best way is to buy cheap tubbed adhesive
Spread on the wall leave it 15/20 mins ,
Then scrap off,it will bring all the paint with it .
Slightly messy but if you scrape into a bucket or tub it's the best way.

Tried that for the first time before xmas, on a plaster wall. Worked a treat and something very therapeutic about doing it. Very satisfying indeed.......... or is it just me?

 

[Frazer Dulson]

Thanks guys! Any recommendations on cheap tubbed? I’m thinking screwfix own brand ...

 

[On one]

Best way is to buy cheap tubbed adhesive
Spread on the wall leave it 15/20 mins ,
Then scrap off,it will bring all the paint with it .
Slightly messy but if you scrape into a bucket or tub it's the best way.

Unfortunately ready mixed adhesive will not work on a drylined ie plasterboarded wall(it will work on a plastered wall),it will just dampen and damage the paper faced plasterboard before releasing the paint.
PVA-ing the wall and then skimming it with finish plaster would be my option

 

[Frazer Dulson]

The plasterboard wall was skimmed then painted by the builders (sorry if that wasn’t clear). So would the method work in this instance because there is already a skim over the board

 

[On one]

Ready mixed adhesive would be fine in that case.

 

[david mccullough]

you could try wallpaper paste, it should hole enough water in it to soften the paint enough to scrape off, cheaper as well

 

[One Day]

I take full credit for inventing the tubbed adhesive method - thank you very much!
But...
Recently found that warm water and a sponge will often work even better. Just make sure you have a good 5" jumbo scraper and fresh blades.