112 FAEM BUILDINGS IN SOUTH AFKICA 



interior surfaces from seven to thirty years, according to quality of 

 paint and conditions to which subjected. 



Re-painting Old Work. — Old work, before being re-painted, must be 

 thoroughly cleaned. This is done by well scouring the surface with 

 soap and water. If the surface is greasy, lime-water may be used and 

 the work rubbed vigorously with pumice stone. When the surface, 

 after having been scoured, becomes dry, it should be rubbed with 

 pumice stone or sand-paper, and all cracks, etc., stopped with putty. 

 In mixing the paint for the first coat for old work, more turps than 

 oil should be used ; this gives a paint which will adhere well. The 

 remaining coats would be the same as for new work. Before applying 

 the first coat, any parts of the surface from which the paint has 

 blistered or been knocked off should be brought up to the general 

 level by painting these particular parts only. If it is much blistered, 

 old paint should be entirely removed before the object in question is 

 re-painted. Old paint can be removed by the application of any one 

 of various solutions suitable for the purpose, or by scraping or burning. 

 The above-mentioned solutions usually contain caustic soda, lime, etc. 



Wash for Removing Oil Paint. — The following are two recipes for 

 removing old paint : — 



1. Dissolve 4 ozs. caustic potash and 2 ozs. soft soap in boiling 



water and add \ lb. quick lime. Smear hot over the old 

 paintwork and allow it to remain for 24 hours. The old 

 paint can then be easily washed off with hot water. 



2. Mix, with water, 2 lbs. washing soda and £ lb. quicklime to 



the consistency of cream. Smear the mixture over the old 

 paintwork and keep moist for an hour. The old paint can 

 then be washed off. 



Distempering. 



Distempering Plaster-work. — Distemper, or water-paint, is generally 

 purchased ready-made in the form of a powder which, in order to 

 prepare it for use, need only be mixed Avith cold water as directed on 

 the packets in which it is put up. Two kinds of water-paint, for 

 external and internal use respectively, are sold. Distemper powder 

 should be mixed with water to the consistency of average cream, and no 

 more should be mixed at a time than can be applied within two hours. 



