Painting over silk paint?

[fuckedoffwiththesummer]

Please help, I’m massively freaking out
I’ve got a handyman coming tomorrow to paint two story high stairwell (he said it’ll take 5/6 days - am paying a day rate)
It’s currently painted with silk paint
He came yesterday, was there 90 minutes and quickly filled a few holes and caulked the skirting board, and he’s coming back tomorrow to start the main job
My Dad always told me, preparation is key to painting.
I’ve asked several times how he intends to prep the walls, as I know you can’t just paint Matt onto silk paint, but he’s been very vague.
I asked if he wanted me to sugar soap the walls, he said this was “an old wives tale”
I asked again yesterday, how will the walls be prepped before painting, and he said “he’ll give them a quick key” before he starts… (it’s two storey’s high!) and he reckons he’ll get two coats on tomorrow too!
I know this is more diy related, but I’m massively anxious about this, I don’t want to be the nitemare customer, but I also want the job done right, and I get conflicting answers online…
ANY advice appreciated please- thank you so much

Sugar soap cleans. Keying will give slight abrasive surface which you will need to do over silk paint for the primer to grip to.
Then prime with Zinsser, there may be an alternative but this is the only option I know, for allowing you to paint water based paints over oil based paints. That needs 24hrs to dry before your matt paint is applied.

A quick key should be ok, especially if he is using good quality paint. That would literally involve rubbing over the surface once with some sandpaper and then wiping the dust off the surface with a damp cloth. It also should be possible to get two coats on in a day. Is he doing the ceiling too?

@Geneticsbunny He’s using Albany (Brewers own paint) which has good reviews?
what’s involved in a quick key? Sorry im useless 😳 it just seems a massive area as its walls and ceilings (but all same colour, so no cutting in)
he’s also not brought any dust sheets? ( the carpet is going anyway, so not worrying about that) - is much dust generated from a quick key?
There is also a dog in the house, he’ll be kept out of the way obvs, but just another worry)
Thank you- sorry for freaking out

Keying is just getting a wooden block that you can hold in your hand, attach some sandpaper to the block, hold the block and run it over the surface you need to key, once or twice. It scratchea the surface a tiny bit to allow the new paint to stick better

Hardly any dust from keying.

You still need to cut in if you have ceiling the same colour but it does save a lot of time. Definitely keep the dog away from the area.