Bathroom paint lifting off as painting

11 replies

Thegentlemonkey · 09/04/2015 20:47

Has anyone experienced this? It's really frustrating, I'm just trying to put bathroom paint on the walls over the existing paint applied by the previous owners, but it just lifts as I'm painting & makes a terrible mess. I thought it might the the old tub of Homebase own brand paint I was using, but having been out & bought a new tub of dulux, it's doing exactly the same thing. I've painted other bathrooms before no problem - anyone know why it's doing this & how to stop it?! Am going to have to sand right back on the walls I've attempted before starting again - it's a real mess. Thanks.

OP posts:

ovumahead · 09/04/2015 20:49

Sorry I have no idea but this happened to us and it's really annoying! Watching with interest...

TheEmpressofBlandings · 09/04/2015 20:51

This happened to us on a ceiling in an old house. We primed it (after a couple of attempts!) with a mix of pva glue and water. Honest, that's what you are supposed to use. Worked fine afterwards.

anotherbloodycyclist · 09/04/2015 20:58

Is the bathroom wall damp? That would stop a water based emulsion adhering to it. PVA or an oil based primer will stop it lifting off. I'd sand down the areas that you've already done and stick the PVA mix or primer on top. If it is damp I'd also try and fix that, may be lack of ventilation.

NorbertDentressangle · 09/04/2015 21:02

Was the paint that's already on the wall a bit shiny? A water resistant bathroom paint maybe?

I'd either prime it or key it by sanding lightly.

Original poster

Thegentlemonkey · 09/04/2015 21:04

No, it's not damp at all - so that's not the problem. PVA glue & water you say?! What kind of ratio? Will give that a go once I've sanded back the first attempt (sigh). Fingers crossed. Thanks.

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TheEmpressofBlandings · 09/04/2015 21:10

1:5 pva to water

bigTillyMint · 09/04/2015 21:14

I was going to ask if it is that Valspar paint because I had a similar problem with that - you have to do one coat and let it dry completely before doing any more. Weird stuff!

I agree with the sanding off and mixing PVA and water (to a runnyish consistency that you can paint on fairly easily) as this should seal the wall.

imnotproud · 09/04/2015 21:15

Sorry to hijack. Can you apply too much PVA? I have a cold wall (single brick) in an old house, no damp (top floor) we PVA'd but paint doesn't seem to apply right. It cracks in places (almost like it's dried out) and then can be lifted off. The person who decorated it did a PVA mix as first

PolterGoose · 10/04/2015 12:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Thegentlemonkey · 10/04/2015 13:09

Hmm, interesting. PigletJohn are you around?!

OP posts:

imnotproud · 10/04/2015 21:45

I know we wish we'd not done it in that room!

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