Should I use obliterating paint?

theDon876

My plaster walls have/had some heavy markings like fingerprints and other marks/stains as well as a few patched up holes.
I tried 4 to 5 coats of Matt emulsion but you can still see the repaired holes and some of the markings. It also looks quite patchy I see white and magnolia mix of patches and streaks. I feel I'd need to put on about 12 coats or more of this paint to cover everything up. 
Should I just apply a coat of obliterating paint and that would settle it all?

Doozergirl

90% of decoration is in the prep work.  Filled holes need sanding back and should be invisible once you're done.  Maybe the greasy marks need taking to with sugar soap.  

It sounds to me like more prep is needed.  I'm not quite sure what obliterating paint is, but it sounds like stain blocker or the like, which isn't a great idea.  

Grenage

I'd say as much as 95% can be prep if the walls are bad.  After scraping and filling I usually run an orbital sander over every surface.  A good quality paint should cover anything in two or three coats.

Jeepers_Creepers

Hi Don.

Can you see these marks because they have different textures and/or heights, or because the original colour has still not been 'obliterated'?

I suspect it's the former, so no amount of additional coats is going to help much. If it's the latter, you need better paint...

If you've used matt emulsion, you should find that it acts as a very fine surface filler and is also easy to sand - I fear you are just going to have to go at it.

theDon876

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Hi Don.

Can you see these marks because they have different textures and/or heights, or because the original colour has still not been 'obliterated'?

I suspect it's the former, so no amount of additional coats is going to help much. If it's the latter, you need better paint...

If you've used matt emulsion, you should find that it acts as a very fine surface filler and is also easy to sand - I fear you are just going to have to go at it.

I have sanded the holes and lightly sanded the whole wall, I did prep but maybe not enough although I can't see how I could have done more. The paint was mega cheap I think £10 of or 10l from b&m so maybe crappy paint. It just seems thin.

Your right it is the original colour showing through.

As you said I think I'll just need to go at it.

GDB2222

We had a small flood. I re-emulsioned the ceiling several times, but the staining kept coming through. One coat of oil-based paint (some primer we had around) stopped the stain coming through. That needed two coats of emulsion to cover it.

I'm unclear why you've been told that stain blocker is a bad idea?  

theDon876

GDB2222 said:

We had a small flood. I re-emulsioned the ceiling several times, but the staining kept coming through. One coat of oil-based paint (some primer we had around) stopped the stain coming through. That needed two coats of emulsion to cover it.

I'm unclear why you've been told that stain blocker is a bad idea?  

What is oil based paint is that silk?

What is stain blocker and when was that mentioned?

Grenage

Paints are either water or oil-based.  Water-based is far more common, especially on walls.  Oil based can be useful if there are problems that would be reactivated by water, such as water stains or rust.

If the marks on the wall are raised then you simply need to sand then flush.  If not, it's not likely just weak paint.  A good quality paint will cost more but save you hours; I usually opt for Dulux trade paints as they're even thicker.

Le_Kirk

theDon876 said:

Should I just apply a coat of obliterating paint and that would settle it all?

Doozergirl said:

It sounds to me like more prep is needed.  I'm not quite sure what obliterating paint is, but it sounds like stain blocker or the like, which isn't a great idea.  

theDon876 said:
What is oil based paint is that silk?
What is stain blocker and when was that mentioned?

It was mentioned here; never heard of obliterating paint.  Stain blocker is something like Zinser Bin - see here: -
https://www.zinsseruk.com/product/b-i-n/

Doozergirl

GDB2222 said:

We had a small flood. I re-emulsioned the ceiling several times, but the staining kept coming through. One coat of oil-based paint (some primer we had around) stopped the stain coming through. That needed two coats of emulsion to cover it.

I'm unclear why you've been told that stain blocker is a bad idea?  

That's fine for a ceiling leak, in fact it's perfect. 

It will stop a wall from breathing though, and can attract condensation on the face.  It's for small patches in useful places, not for entire walls.  I'm not even sure if that's what they were planning, I just have no idea what obliterating paint is!  

I think the OP also needs a better matt emulsion paint.  There can be a  false economy in very cheap stuff.  

Good prep, good paint.  

[Deleted User]

Doozergirl said:

I think the OP also needs a better matt emulsion paint.  There can be a  false economy in very cheap stuff. 

Hi,

aye, buy cheap buy twice.