Emulsion over permanent marker pen

EasternMoose

My 2 year old decided to show her artistic ability over the lounge wall using a black permanent marker pen! :mad:

It is in 5 different places all around the room. Does anybody know if I just re-emulsion over this, will the pen eventually show back through or do I need to do something else first? I had a suggestion of putting some undercoat on first and the re-emulsioning. Any advice would be gratefully received.

mrdexter

I believe my sister used a small tin of damp covering paint from Wilkos, two coats of that then stopped the marker coming through after emulsioning over the top.

markelock

first clean off as much as possible using a household cleaner. you could use mold paint, but emulsion should cover it fine. They'll do it again eventually anyway!

BTB1_2

mrdexter is correct.

Just paint over the marks with damp block first (may take 2 coats). Then emulsion as normal.

andrew-b

I would try rubbing the mark off with methylated spirit first. Going back to my chemistry days at uni, acetone would be the best chemical try to remove it. Most nail varnish removers contain acetone so try that - though it will more than likely damage the surrounding paint too.

As your 2-year old will more than likely want to practice her artistic abilities again may i suggest providing her with a dedicated place where she can draw without getting into trouble! I'd also hide away all the permanent markers!

I saw an idea on "60-minute makeover" a few weeks back where in the kids playroom they painted an area of plaster on the wall with black paint (think they used chalkboard paint) to create a chalkboard and then surrounded it with an architrave to finish it off nicely.

Andy

ic

andrew-b wrote: »

I saw an idea on "60-minute makeover" a few weeks back where in the kids playroom they painted an area of plaster on the wall with black paint (think they used chalkboard paint) to create a chalkboard and then surrounded it with an architrave to finish it off nicely.

Surely it'd be more sensible to just get a chalk board and hang it on the wall. That way when they grow out of it, the chalkboard can be removed without the need to redecorate?

andrew-b

ic wrote: »

Surely it'd be more sensible to just get a chalk board and hang it on the wall. That way when they grow out of it, the chalkboard can be removed without the need to redecorate?

I never said it was sensible! That's the easier way yep...but all these property programmes on the tv like to do things differently don't they!

Andy

m_13

Most DIY stores sell two or three brands of Stain Stop or similar. You can get it in paint-on where you use a brush or Polycell do Stain Stop Spray which is an aerosol. I've had good results with it over pen and damp stains.

I can also recommend the 'real life' range of paints from Dulux. You genuinely can get most pen off them but probably not permanent marker! My lovely foster sisters and brothers love to crayon and draw on the walls (and now, unfortunately love to peel wallpaper off too :rolleyes: ).

misgrace

It could still bleed thru no matter how many coats of emulsion you use.

If you have some oilbased Undercoat, or satinwood, or eggshell, (not gloss) lying around, brush that on the marks first, when dry, then emulsion, it definately wont bleed thru.

I come across this all the time in my jobs, and this is the cheapest, and most effective way IMO

TimBuckTeeth

I would definitely try to remove the pen marks first before painting, with the right solvent it should remove most of it and at least blend the edges of the marks.

As mentioned above, meths should work quite well as most marker pens are alcohol based, on a smooth surface meths usually removes the mark completely but on a porous wall it is more difficult. Or you could try a graffiti remover spray :
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/44458/Paint/Spray-Paints/No-Nonsense-Graffiti-Remover

EasternMoose

Thanks for all the replies - When I got home from work the missus had used cif to remove just about all of the marks, and it doesn't seem to have damaged the paint, so I'll probably just stick a bit more emulsion back over the affected areas at the weekend.

Just for the record, the little madam is not allowed to have crayons, pens etc in the lounge; she is restricted to the kitchen under supervision, but she just happened to locate this marker pen in a kitchen drawer while her baby sister was being attended to in a different room - having got the "weapon" she then seized her chance to make mayhem!!