Repairing peeling paint

TuppenceHapenny

I've got a few ceilings with peeling paint that I want to repair but need advice about how to do it. The areas affected are not very extensive at all but the complication is that the ceilings are 'artexed' and the artex contains asbestos, so I'm reluctant to do anything that might disturb it.

FreeBear

If the paint is peeling, absolutely no point in putting another coat on. Some would say skim the ceiling with plaster, but this will fall down if the paint isn't firmly adhered. Overboarding is another option, but costly and is a crapshoot as to whether screws go in to joists or just old plaster.

Stripping the artex is the final option - I've had good success using X-Tex. As the artex remains "wet", there is very little risk of any asbestos fibres becoming airborne. Messy, but relatively cheap.

Albermarle

Normally a ceiling ( artex or not) would be painted with matt emulsion. As far as I know it would be unusual for this to peel, unless maybe there is a lot of damp/a leak. However it seems to be happening in more than one room.
Bit strange .

FreeBear

Albermarle said:

Normally a ceiling ( artex or not) would be painted with matt emulsion. As far as I know it would be unusual for this to peel, unless maybe there is a lot of damp/a leak. However it seems to be happening in more than one room.
Bit strange .

Had paint peeling off the ceiling in my kitchen - At some point in its ~90 odd years, I suspect distemper had been used.

MysteryMe

I recommend this, had a similar issue with peeling paint

https://www.zinsseruk.com/product/peel-stop/

TuppenceHapenny

Thanks for the replies. The rooms affected haven't been heated properly in the past so dampness was the problem but the peeling is very limited. Would it be worth re-painting if the dampness problem is cured now (possibly with a coat of the Peel Stop first in the affected areas)?

Albermarle

TuppenceHapenny said:

Thanks for the replies. The rooms affected haven't been heated properly in the past so dampness was the problem but the peeling is very limited. Would it be worth re-painting if the dampness problem is cured now (possibly with a coat of the Peel Stop first in the affected areas)?

Worth a try I would think if it is only small patches, as other solutions suggested are not an easy job.

TuppenceHapenny

Albermarle said:

TuppenceHapenny said:

Thanks for the replies. The rooms affected haven't been heated properly in the past so dampness was the problem but the peeling is very limited. Would it be worth re-painting if the dampness problem is cured now (possibly with a coat of the Peel Stop first in the affected areas)?

Worth a try I would think if it is only small patches, as other solutions suggested are not an easy job.

Should I make do with peeling off the 'loose' paint by hand, miss out any possible sanding stage and just repaint with matt emulsion (with or without the Peel Stop)?

Albermarle

TuppenceHapenny said:

Albermarle said:

TuppenceHapenny said:

Thanks for the replies. The rooms affected haven't been heated properly in the past so dampness was the problem but the peeling is very limited. Would it be worth re-painting if the dampness problem is cured now (possibly with a coat of the Peel Stop first in the affected areas)?

Worth a try I would think if it is only small patches, as other solutions suggested are not an easy job.

Should I make do with peeling off the 'loose' paint by hand, miss out any possible sanding stage and just repaint with matt emulsion (with or without the Peel Stop)?

I think you need to sand the edges down where you have peeled the paint away.
Otherwise it will not be a very smooth finish and the new paint could get under the edges and lift them.

TuppenceHapenny

I've picked off the loose paint with my fingers as best I could. I couldn't help picking off small amounts of the artex with my thumb nail when trying to get under the loose paint to prize it off. Anyway, I'm worried about trying to sand the edges of the paint around the exposed artex before repainting as I wont be able to avoid sanding the artex a little bit as well. So I wondered if there was anything else I could do to make for a long-term repair. I'm not bothered about the final appearance, just about getting the artex covered over again.
Is there anything I could do with PVA to stop the new paint getting under the edges and lifting the original paint?
Alternatively, could I just put a new (thin) layer of plaster over the exposed artex (overlapping the edge onto the painted area) then paint over that? I know I'll end up with strange smooth patches in a sea of stipple effect but I'd rather that than risk sanding the edges of the paint and disturbing the exposed artex to release possible asbestos fibres.

TuppenceHapenny

MysteryMe said:

I recommend this, had a similar issue with peeling paint

https://www.zinsseruk.com/product/peel-stop/

Thanks for suggesting this - I've started using it on the first ceiling.

Does anybody have any comments about pulling off the peeling paint by hand - I'm worried it might release asbestos  (the artex does seem a bit powdery when touched).