not perfectly smooth, surface, which should show no joints or coarse brush-markings, and should have a perfectly dead appearance, be solid and uniform throughout, and should not rub off by ordinary wear or leaning against.
Distemper of any kind should never be spread over old or dirty stuff, these should be first washed off. An expect will not flap his brush in working well-made distemper, but will use the tip of the brush only, and make very little noise. Calcimine or any distemper can be laid on in any direction from the outer or working edge. Splashes result from the use of watery wash and want of experience in working.
A distemper brush should be worn off a trifle before being used to whiten a ceiling. The work of washing off a ceiling will be sufficient to wear down a new brush to a fit condition. After the brush is done with, wash it out thoroughly and lay it by, before attempting to use it, soak it in water, or the hairs may fall out, through it being too dry. This last caution applies to nearly all brushes used in house decorating.
If there is a delicate ornamental cornice in the room that cannot be got at with the ordinary distemper brush, a smaller brush, called a distemper tool, is used both for the washing off and whitening. In the whitening, push this brush up into the ornamented parts. It does not much matter how the distemper is laid so long as it is put on evenly, and all the surface covered.
There appears to be an idea that a new ceiling requires some special treatment before it is calcimined, but this is not so. Providing that the ceiling has been left by the plasterer in a proper condition, it is a more simple job than whitening an old one, on account of there being no washing-off or making-good to do. The most ordinary cause of failure is that the ceilings are not thoroughly dry before the whitewash is put on. If there is the least sign of sweating or moisture on the ceiling, it may be taken to indicate
