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Original poster

HELP! PAINT WON'T STICK TO THE WALL

40 replies

bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 15:30

I am decorating the living room with Dulux Endurance Almond White.

I prepped the walls by sanding them. Then I washed with sugar soap and wiped them down with clear water.

The paint is not taking to the walls whether I use a brush or roller. If the roller or brush goes over a bit already painted the paint comes away.

Can anybody tell me where I have gone wrong?

OP posts:
Twitterqueen · 02/12/2014 15:31

I suspect the walls are still wet. How long have let them dry for?

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 15:35

It was probably around 5pm yesterday when I finished all the prep work and I started painting 1pm today. Do you think I have not given the walls long enough to dry?

OP posts:
Spindelina · 02/12/2014 15:43

What was it you were sanding? Previous paint, or plaster?

Are the walls at all powdery?

Is it dry paint that's coming off, or wet paint?

Or is it fresh plaster that's been PVA-ed?

WrappedInABlankie · 02/12/2014 15:46

I had this! The walls weren't prepared properly when they built the house had to be sanded down and plastered again then an undercoat then paint! Was a pita

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 15:47

Painting over previous paint.

Walls aren't powdery.

It is the wet paint that is coming off onto the roller.

Not painting onto plaster.

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Smurfingreat · 02/12/2014 15:50

This happened to my neighbours, they went to the local decorating centre (trade not on of the Homebase/B&Q jobs), explained the problem and were sorted out with some sort of primer. Problem solved. Good luck.

wonkylegs · 02/12/2014 15:51

It may be that it's too cold.
I was trying to paint our kitchen this time last year and I had terrible problems until I realised I only had problems when the heating was off and the house was freezing cold.
Putting the heating on made a huge difference and the paint then stuck fine (& looks fab this year)

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 15:55

Thanks smurfing.

Have never had a problem painting before. I have always used Dulux although this is the first time I have used endurance.

It is quite a thick paint and it does say on the tin it will need two coats. I was wondering if maybe the first coat needs to go on and dry almost as a base, before applying second coat.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 02/12/2014 15:55

What kind of paint was on there previously?

I'm wondering if you've not stirred the paint or there's just too much on the roller so that's why it's coming off onto the roller.

My suggestions would be several coats or a primer first, as Smurfing suggests.

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 15:56

Will close the windows and crank the heating up wonky and see if that helps.

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Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 15:59

A matt emulsion was previous paint. Have also stirred the paint.

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Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 16:03

Interestingly it seems to be going on better with radiator roller as opposed to regular one. Still patchy but maybe not as bad.

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Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 16:12

Ignore last post. It was a trick of the light.

OP posts:
Spindelina · 02/12/2014 16:34

It is quite a thick paint and it does say on the tin it will need two coats. I was wondering if maybe the first coat needs to go on and dry almost as a base, before applying second coat.

Don't quite understand. What else would you do, if not this?

You're applying the first coat, and it's not sticking, right?

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 16:50

I am not concerned that it needs two coats. I am confused as I have never had a tin of paint that slides and comes away when I am applying it. It is not merely that it is a little patchy, it looks terrible.

If the second coat is anything like the first I will have to start from scratch.

I am not quite sure what you mean Spindelina.

OP posts:
Wishtoremainunknown · 02/12/2014 16:56

I read that as pants. I've nothing to add on paint though sorry.

wowfudge · 02/12/2014 16:57

Maybe you just need a new roller OP. Glad to hear is going on better.

Catswiththumbs · 02/12/2014 16:58

I'm decorating at the moment and had the same trouble with the first coat. I think it's the temperature that's the problem. Second coat has evened everything up. I just had to literally slap it on, not go over it and wait till it had dried.

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 17:03

Thanks all. I better get on as I am only halfway through applying first coat. It has taken me as long as doing all the prep.
Am starting to wish I'd never bloody started Sad

OP posts:
Spindelina · 02/12/2014 17:10

was wondering if maybe the first coat needs to go on and dry almost as a base, before applying second coat.

This is the bit I'm confused by. From this sentence, it sounds like you are trying to put a second coat on before the first is properly dry. But nothing else you've said seems to suggest that, so it probably is just me getting confused!

agoodbook · 02/12/2014 17:15

It may be the paint that was on- we had the same problem when we tried to paint in our bathroom- previous owners had used some strange paint, and nothing would stick to it - the decorator tried everything ( there is some special stuff you can get it seems) but in the end, we had to completely scrape it off. Hope you have better luck

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 17:25

Spindelina, I am just doing the first coat. As I am putting it on, if the roller goes over where I have just done it takes the paint off. Crossed wires I think.

Please don't say that agoodbook I normally like painting. I find it quite therapeutic. Not so today.

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agoodbook · 02/12/2014 17:28

bluecoconut just spoken to husband who says it sounds as if you have an oil based paint on , and you will need to use a primer first - sorry :(

BlueBrightBlue · 02/12/2014 17:29

Try a roller with a longer pile. Don't apply too much pressure.
Is your house quite newish? I say this as a friend of mine had the same problem as did all of her neighbours. It only affected certain walls and the stud walls were problem free.

Original poster
bluecoconut · 02/12/2014 18:52

House is about 20 years old Blue and all the walls are the same.
Have finished for the day now. I am going to have a lovely hot shower climb into bed and watch tv.

agoodbook Can you ask DH if I can just put the primer on or will I need to re prepare the walls again? Thanks.

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