Paint adhesion problem. How to resolve? Any paint experts here?

[slowmotion]

I've removed emulsion from plaster walls using a steam wallpaper stripper and a stripping knife. The steam softens the paint and then you go to work with the knife. It's mind-bogglingly tedious but it does work.

 

[neil_merseyside]

and either use a coat of watered down PVA or another sealant. Then use the paint you want over that layer.

I thought PVA sealed the surface pores too well effectively making it smooth and ungrippy.

 

[Jody]

I thought PVA sealed the surface pores too well effectively making it smooth and ungrippy.

No idea. He might be thinking it's been freshly skimmed before the basecoat.

 

[Randomnerd]

Stand aside! Paint expert coming through.

what? Qualifications? This is the Internet, lads. Come on.

(A summer as a student painting bathrooms with Zinsser on Staten Island to pay for a driveaway car trip across the States; six years as a sign writer and bespoke painted furniture / kitchen cabinets / mural painter; BSc in Paint Science from Dulux College, Cambridge. One of these is a lie.)

Take off the Valspar. Rough back the emulsion ( it’s a bit like the joke in Ireland about directions “I wouldn’t start from here…” You’re not going to go back to plaster and put on Zinnser BIN so you will have to trust the emulsion is on right and not trapping any oil or solvent…) to make a key and use Bullseye 123 as a base. Two coats, with at least 90 mins drying time between coats and an overnight before the topcoat. Your second undercoat can be tinted towards your final colour if it’s desired. Anything waterbased as topcoat, but don’t go cheap. Specialist bathroom paints as top aren’t really any more wipeable than good emulsions imho.

Things will be better now, but we would be off our nuts on Zinnser by lunchtime. VOCs. Keep the windows open!

If you’re bothered about the environment and your health - having looked at VOC off gassing I now steer clear - I recommend Mythic Paint, but I don’t think it’s freely on sale in the UK. Also Lakeland Paint. Zero VOCs.

 

[Jody]

Stand aside! Paint expert coming through.

what? Qualifications? This is the Internet, lads. Come on.

(A summer as a student painting bathrooms with Zinsser on Staten Island to pay for a driveaway car trip across the States; six years as a sign writer and bespoke painted furniture / kitchen cabinets / mural painter; BSc in Paint Science from Dulux College, Cambridge. One of these is a lie.)

My dad was a qualified sign writer also.

 

[chris667]

I have recently replastered my bathroom. I used PVA watered down to seal it.

So if you want to see if that works, ask me after it's done!

What I would say is I am very disappointed with the quality of pretty much everything B&Q sells nowadays. I bought a kitchen off them. Did all the recommended steps. The worktop has warped and if I use the aerator the top flies off the tap. It's stuff bad property developers fit to flip a place they're selling.

 

[newts]

What I would say is I am very disappointed with the quality of pretty much everything B&Q sells nowadays. I bought a kitchen off them. Did all the recommended steps. The worktop has warped and if I use the aerator the top flies off the tap. It's stuff bad property developers fit to flip a place they're selling.

A good summary of B&Q👍

 

[Illaveago]

I think most paints are carp nowadays . They have taken the body out of it in order to reduce VOC's

The Egyptians knew how to paint walls . Their stuff has lasted thousands of years .

 

[8mph]

I do a fair bit of decorating and steer clear of Valspar paint, I find it watery and it gives off a bad smell. I'd scrub the walls down with a wet Scotchbrite pad then repaint with Dulux Easycare emulsion or something similar.

 

[GuyBoden]

Modern paint is rubbish, but it's better for your health and the environment.

 

[Dag Hammar]

As Randomnerd said earlier today , Zinsser paints really are top notch. They may appear more expensive than some other paints ( which indeed they are ) but the thing is, amongst their wide range of paint products they have specialist paints to overcome particular problems.
As an aside, 40 odd years ago Valpar paints were my paint of choice and I never had any problems with their undercoat, gloss or emulsion but I have read user reviews of their paints in the last few years and there has been many complaints about the quality. I think Valspar were taken over by another company and as is often the case chasing the bottom line leads to scrimping on quality.
Take a look at the Zinsser website, https://www.zinsseruk.com There is a lot of useful information on there.

 

[neil_merseyside]

I have recently replastered my bathroom. I used PVA watered down to seal it.

So if you want to see if that works, ask me after it's done!

Bad news, PVA for tiling is a real no-no needs to be SBR for tiling.

https://www.wallsandfloors.co.uk/blog/can-i-use-pva-prime-surface-tiling/

 

[I like Skol]

I put in my official complaint to Valspar this morning including this rather damning picture to illustrate the Problem.

Now I just need to wait for their response on how they intend to rectify the mess....

 

[PaulSB]

I can't offer any technical solutions but this my experience regarding some of the previous comments.

I've removed old emulsion with a steam stripper and this definitely works. My recollection is with plenty of steam it was quite easy and quick.

I've used Valspar paints in two bathrooms and a kitchen without any problems. Valspar has been my go to choice until I discovered the excellent advice given at Dulux Decorator Centres and then moved on to a local independent. A good local independent would now be my go to for help. I'd suggest a good one would probably be able to solve the issue for you.

I've used Zinser with outstanding results. One example which springs to mind is full width pine bedroom wardrobes - that 1980s look. I used two coats of Zinser followed by Farrow & Ball. The results were to my surprise and delight excellent. I didn't believe the paint had any chance of sticking in the longterm - it has.

I'd strongly recommend F&B and in particular the Estate emulsion range which I've found very hard-wearing.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Saw this thread and went to Trustpilot. Never seen a product royally thrashed as this.