Jason - Marbled Slate Fire Surround

Hi Fred, please help.

We have a huge slate marble effect fire surround and it really 
doesn't look good. It over powers quite a small room. I love original 
features but feel I have to do something to make the surround more 
attractive.

Can I get rid of the marble effect with chemicals or should I use a 
specialist paint as I would like it to be a simple feature of the 
slate. I can paint it white as a last resort but feel this is a step 
to far although I like the look. Please help.

Many thanks
Jason

Jason

 

First take pictures of what is left of the marble effect on the slate.

The effect has been produced with oil paint and if it has started to flake or peel off then the only action is to remove all of it and start afresh.

I am presuming the effect has been created in panels and can be reproduced in the style.

To remove the existing work, and so as not to damage the easily damaged slate, do not use scrapers or solvents.

Rub the surface down with wet or dry abrasive paper.

This is the same paper that car body repairers use when spraying car bodywork.

Use a 240 grade to start and finish with a 320 or even a 400 grade and use plenty of water so as not to scratch the surface.

Once this is done and the surface clean and smooth redecoration can commence.

Apply several thin coats of oil based eggshell black and when dry marble the panels as they were before, or if you are not up to it, get in touch with a local decorator to do it for you.

Or, you can paint the surround in what ever colour you wish, perhaps picking out the panels in different colours of your choice.

Hope this helps in some way,

 

Yours

Fred.