decorating advice now please

[Two_Sheds]

I can paint a flat wall, and have a really steady hand with skirting (I've discovered this week).

Next problem is that we have a fake wall in our sitting room, it's covering up water pipes. The screw/bolty things show through the paint and I want a nice smooth surface.

Best way to proceed?

update: Thanks to everyone for the sage advice, as always.

I ended up removing as many screws as possible, countersinking & filling the rest, glueing the board down. Then put textured wallpaper on top & painted it. I'm really pleased

[Liza]

I would think it would need skimming over with plaster. Hows your cake icing skills ?

[lottie dolly]

Is the pannel thick enough to countersink the screw heads,then put two lays of thicker lining paper over it,that way you will end up with the plain wall you so desire,and have got rid of the screw heads and join,at a cheaper rate tooboot,and enable a fairly quick access if needed,

[bishop]

remove the screws, countersink the holes deep enough so the heads of the screws are about 1mm below the surface, then fill and sand it down, will give you a smooth surface ready to paint or paper.

[bigt1888]

hi two sheds

i wouls remove the screws and cups and if the board comes away easily i would gently prise away the right hand side about 1/4 inch or so enough to get the nozzle of a mastic gun in and squeeze a bead of "no nails" or similar therefore gluing the panel on and you can then fill the screw holes and finish all around the board with decorators caulk (must be acrylic so that it will take paint)

what is the board made of is it plywood, plasterboard or (worst case) asbestos!!!

P.S. remember that the board is covering water pipes that you might need into in a hurry if you get a burst. i wouldnt want to have to locate all the screws that are counter sunk and filled it would be much easier to run a stanley knife around the baord cutting through the glue...

[scarey55]

I would agree with Bishop. Filling is much easier than hanging lining paper and I think you will get a better finish.
I tried the sort of paper that you linked to in my daughter's bedroom and it didn't really cover the holes in the wall where I had gouged the old paper off!

[rustylady]

Unscrew the screws and countersink them. If they have round heads, replace them with flat ones. I'll come and help if you like.

[Glutton4...]

remove the screws, countersink the holes deep enough so the heads of the screws are about 1mm below the surface, then fill and sand it down, will give you a smooth surface ready to paint or paper.

I would do that, then paint with a roller instead of a brush. Also, if you use a matt finish paint instead of eggshell, you get less shine and shadow. It hides a multitude of sins.

I couldn't remove a paper border from our last place. So, I got a tube of ready mixed fine finishing polyf*lla plaster and skimmed over the edges to hide it, then gave it several good coats of matt paint.
Result = invisible!

[Pies]

before you hide the screws measure and mark down their position on some p-aper and file away,Someday somebody will want to remove it

[taff]

or coujntersink the screws slightly, then get those plastic white covers for them, less visible than bare screws, but easier to find if they need removing.

[taff]

forgot to say, if the pipes don't need to be accessed, countersink the screws, then fill with some kind fo decorators plaster, not paste, sand lightly, paint over.

[Two_Sheds]

thanks you guys, for all your suggestions.

It seems a lot more work than I'd imagined

[Jeanied]

If you could find some soft backed board to glue over - that would skim the surface for you and you could paint it to match. Maybe I have just invented a new product.

[bearded bloke]

What about using some ball or magnetic catches,best of both worlds invisible fixings & the panel/s can still be removed easily should access be required

magnetic catch
B&Q Double Ball Catch, 0000003211717

[Snadger]

Put a nail in next to each screw and take out the screws all together. Its then easier to prize panel off if you do need access!