Painting over dirty wall with a light emulsion

WLM21

Our hall was painted magnolia a few years ago, on a lining paper which was already there. With grandchildren etc it is starting to look a bit grubby, with quite a few marks.

A friend said it would be easier to over-paint the dark marks with white oil based undercoat, maybe even thinned slightly with turps, then emulsion as normal. Would this work ?

His friend said just to use white matt emulsion, rather than the silk emulsion I will eventually use .. he reckons matt paint covers better.

Which would be the better option please ?

Jonesya

Personally I wouldn't use oil based paints on the walls as I'd worry about the compatibility with the emulsion top-coat, would it cover smoothly and stick to it.

I'd give it a good clean with sugar soap and then a few coats of white matt emulsion.

Gastines3

Having just had to redecorate the whole house of a daughter with 7 children,ages from 1-17, I recognise the problem!!! Felt tip pens and markers etc I always cover any marks with an oil based undercoat before emulsioning or even papering. They show through otherwise. Having just done the hall/stairs and landing with very high walls to staircase,I'd like to pass on one tip my wife came up with.I emulsioned all the walls down to the hall which I papered with a paper with a modern style flower head and foliage design. Flower heads being red and in several sizes to match the textured carpet I laid. My wife cut out a couple of dozen of the flower heads and I stuck them on the sides of the staircase walls.Finished result looked quite good and children loved it.