Robert - Preparation Problems

I am redecorating flat which is normally  let before readvertising for new let .I am having problems with the bathroom which tenant had changed colour from white  to a sort of magnolia colour .I intended to change colour  back to brilliant white .I had put two coats of emulsion on walls and ceilings.each coat was allowed several days to dry before applying next one .However the previous  colour was still showing through today which is 3 days after I did the second coat. I attempted to do the third coat  and to my horror found  that when I was rollering or brushing the paint on it was actually dragging the 2 previous white coats in lumps and exposing the previous colour .Can you please advise me as to what is needed to stop this problem recurring.

Thanks

Rob Rees

Robert

 

Sounds a did like the surface hasn't been prepared correctly.

 

If it's taking longer than two hours to dry then it could be condensation on the walls. The cure for that is open windows and doors to allow for circulation of air. When all the walls are dry prepare by sanding with medium glasspaper and dust off. Apply emulsion (that is if you are using emulsion) in the normal way.

 

If the roller is pulling the previous coats off the surface then it could be the walls have previously been painted with gloss paint. Gloss painted surfaces must be roughed up (the shine taken off) before applying emulsion paint. You can do this by sanding with coarse glasspaper and washing with sugar soap.

 

If it's oil paint, gloss or eggshell, you are using then it could be grease or soap deposits on the surface, if so then the surface must be washed with sugar soap to remove all contamination before painting.

 

It could be that preparation wasn't done last time it was decorated and with you now applying a new coat system the roller is pulling the old paint completely from the wall, if this was the case then you would see it coming off in medium to large strips. Preparation can be messy here but washing with sugar soap should get most of the previous paint off the wall.

 

Good luck!

 

Hope this has been of some help for you.

 

Fred