Help please - Painting over distemper

chris1234567_2 · 26 November 2012 at 11:58AM

Hi,
I have a 1930's house, which I am living in and doing up. I would like to paint over the distempered walls and am very aware of the issues that this could bring. Distempered walls react to any water based paint and as a result will bubble and peel away. I am also aware that the best solution would be to knuckle down and remove every bit. However, I want to know - has anyone out there managed to put emulsion over a distempered wall successfully using PVA or EB (Emulsa Bond) as a base?

dave82_2 · 26 November 2012 at 12:03PM

I wouldn't use PVA it is nearly impossible to paint over. I would be looking at doing a small test area using an oil based primer something like zinzer.

chris1234567_2 · 26 November 2012 at 12:14PM

Thanks for quick response but have you tried it yourself and if so to what percentage did you water the PVA ? I agree with doing a test area. Never heard of zinzer but will check it out. Thanks.

dave82_2 · 26 November 2012 at 12:41PM

Haven't done it myself no but I have painted a room where the plasterer had splashed some of the newly plastered walls with PVA solution by mistake and it took about 5 coats of emulsion to cover these areas!