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Original poster

Can anyone tell me what has happened to my newly (professionally) painted walls?

114 replies

Sandcaaarstle · 26/11/2025 19:58

Just had my lounge painted. It was silk emulsion and I didn’t fancy panting it myself with Matt emulsion. I’ve come home from work today (it was finished yesterday afternoon) and looks like this. What do I do now?
I’ve attached photos but might not upload for a while.

Can anyone tell me what has happened to my newly (professionally) painted walls?
Can anyone tell me what has happened to my newly (professionally) painted walls?
OP posts:
Original poster
Sandcaaarstle · 26/11/2025 20:05

The house is 5 years old so the plaster not remotely new.

OP posts:
GrinchoftheNorth · 26/11/2025 20:05

This can happen when you paint Matt over silk without prepping the walls first. I have made this mistake before. I'd be very cross if a professional did it however

Crambino · 26/11/2025 20:04

Definitely get them back to fix that! Are they reputable / local?

Original poster
Sandcaaarstle · 26/11/2025 20:04

Not new plaster, had been previously painted with silk emulsion

OP posts:
Straightjacketsandroses · 26/11/2025 20:04

Just withhold payment until it’s sorted; a good decorator will fix this, and a bad one can be replaced and not paid!

Original poster
Sandcaaarstle · 26/11/2025 20:03

I have paid - it was perfect when they left yesterday afternoon. This has happened at some point today.

OP posts:
Lookingforthejoy · 26/11/2025 20:03

On new plaster? It looks like they didn’t do a mist coat first.

BettysRoasties · 26/11/2025 20:03

That’s definitely not right. Reminds me of that crackle nail polish.

call them back out.

Original poster
Sandcaaarstle · 26/11/2025 20:03

One wall was wallpapered which they removed. All four walls had silk emulsion paint on it. I heard them sanding it down but I don’t know exactly what products they used. Definitely wasn’t painted onto bare plaster. Surely they’ll have to come back and fix it? Have just sent photos and awaiting response. I’m devastated. I saved up for months 🙁

OP posts:
Straightjacketsandroses · 26/11/2025 20:03

MumoftwoNC · 26/11/2025 20:01

I'm not an expert but it looks like they didn't wait for the new plaster to dry before painting?

Even if it’s dry it will do this without a mist coat.

OP, I hope you haven’t paid your decorator??

MumoftwoNC · 26/11/2025 20:01

I'm not an expert but it looks like they didn't wait for the new plaster to dry before painting?

Straightjacketsandroses · 26/11/2025 20:01

Was this on bare plaster? It looks like egg shelling - where paint is put on fresh plaster and cracks. Freshly plastered walls need a mist coat for this reason. I would get your decorator back!

CombatBarbie · 26/11/2025 20:00

Is that the paint cracking??? Silly question but were the walls recently plastered or prepped before painting?

Nobumsonthetable · 26/11/2025 20:00

Yikes. What was it painted on? Bare plaster? Or did they do an undercoat, or paint on top of the existing paint?
I haven’t seen that kind of cracking before, you might need to cover with lining paper and paint on that?