Removing Mastic from Walls

[CatherineJ]

Need some advice please.

I'm starting to decorate the living room and the previous occupants decided in their wisdom to run speaker wire around top of the 2 walls. When they moved out they took the speaker wire, but left the mastic behind. I had thought that a sanding block would remove it but oh no, it hasn't touched it.

The other half has suggested a wallpaper scraper. Does anyone have any other suggestions before I start hacking at the walls.

[bananapieface]

A gasket scraper would be more rigid than a wallpaper scraper, I used one to remove all sorts from our walls, never struggled even with tile adhesive.

[Simpo Two]

If you mean silicone sealant or similar I'd try slicing it off using a narrow-bladed 'snap-off' type modelling knife. These are very useful as with the blade well extended you can curve it and so get the blade flat with the surface.

[CatherineJ]

Simpo Two said:

If you mean silicone sealant or similar I'd try slicing it off using a narrow-bladed 'snap-off' type modelling knife. These are very useful as with the blade well extended you can curve it and so get the blade flat with the surface.

Yes I think that's what it is. It's a bit rubbery to the touch.

[Spudler]

Get the worst off with a flat blade then http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Adhesives+Sealants...

[Wings]

CatherineJ said:

Simpo Two said:

If you mean silicone sealant or similar I'd try slicing it off using a narrow-bladed 'snap-off' type modelling knife. These are very useful as with the blade well extended you can curve it and so get the blade flat with the surface.

Yes I think that's what it is. It's a bit rubbery to the touch.

Polycell do a silicone sealant remover, a gell which you brush on with the applicator supplied.

[Wacky Racer]

Soak it in white spirit/turps on an old rag for twenty minutes and it should easily peel away...

[CatherineJ]

Wacky Racer said:

Soak it in white spirit/turps on an old rag for twenty minutes and it should easily peel away...

Ah now I have a bottle of that in the car boot, I can experiment with.

[Furyous]

If the knife doesnt work, theres always Silicone eater

[Simpo Two]

I wasn't sure if solvents/removers would spoil the nearby decor - last thing you want is ugly smears all over matt paint. Maybe cut the worst off then finish with solvent.

[Furyous]

Simpo Two said:

I wasn't sure if solvents/removers would spoil the nearby decor - last thing you want is ugly smears all over matt paint. Maybe cut the worst off then finish with solvent.

OP says about to redecorate so not an Issue ?

[CatherineJ]

Thanks for all your replies they have been quite helpful. I'll try working on it tomorrow night, i've been preoccupied tonight with the horrors of no washing machine.

[Simpo Two]

Furyous said:

OP says about to redecorate so not an Issue ?

Fair point, forgot that. Fire at will then

[CatherineJ]

Simpo Two said:

Furyous said:

OP says about to redecorate so not an Issue ?

Fair point, forgot that. Fire at will then

Yes i'm blitzing the whole house including woodwork.

So far i've done the kitchen walls, a feature wall on the middle landing an painted the grout in the kitchen. It's the living room next.