Removing PVA drips from wall

[LennyM1984]

We've recently had some ceilings skimmed and coving removed with the plaster blended in.

The plasterer has done a great job but there are a few thin drips of PVA (I assume) running down the wall. Is sanding the best way to remove these (they are too thin to scrape and peel) or is there a better way? I assume that emulsion won't stick well to PVA hence why I want to remove before painting.

[simon_harris]

PVA is water soluable, just use a damp cloth and wipe it away

[Magooagain]

If it’s dry then a light sanding will deal with it.

[sospan]

Has the plasterer skimmed with a sealer not PVA? When we had an artex ceiling skimmed to smooth the plasterer sealed with a hard setting solution as there was a chance of the Artex being old enought to contain asbestos. It was a belt and braces decision as thought unlikely but....

[dhutch]

Been there, done that, and its a right pain.

Wetting it down and wiping it of can work, and don't be afraid of getting the walls good and wet.
Sanding the high spots at the end of each drip can also work reasonable well.

Slap a coat of while over the whole wall, and where the drip runs are showing, (wont take the paint the same way as is not as porous) overcoat with white till you cant really see it. Then 'stripe coat' a coat of the colour over the runs before painting the final colour on the whole wall.

[OutInTheShed]

Try scraping or slicing off with a really sharp blade?

If it's basic PVA, water will soften it. But 'PVA' gets used as a generic term for all sorts.

[mart 63]

Just brush some sealer over the pva.

[dhutch]

OutInTheShed said:

Try scraping or slicing off with a really sharp blade?

This can work too .

A decorators glass scraper is a very handy tool.