Wallpaper paste base-coat...possible fix or not?
#1
03-16-14, 06:17 PM
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Wallpaper paste base-coat...possible fix or not?
I bought 2.5 litres of a good silk emulsion to paint 2 of the walls of my Daughters room & was told this would be more than enough to do the job with enough left-over to use elsewhere. However, I have used about 2 litres of the paint to paint the smallest of the walls which measures about 7ft x 7ft and has a long window. My house is a newly-built property with white painted walls and I was told that primer wouldn't be necessary yet the walls seem to be soaking-up the paint. A friend who has quite a bit of experience in home decorating suggests that I apply a thin coat of thin wallpaper paste to the wall still needing to be painted & allowing it to dry before I paint it which will act as a barrier between the paint and the wall and prevent the wall from soaking-up the paint but my Dad says this is probably the worse tip he has ever heard. Has anyone here ever tried/heard/recommend/not-recommend this tip of pasting the wall prior to painting. Thank you in advance for any advice you might be able to give me regarding this or another tip to stop walls soaking-up paint.
#2
03-17-14, 04:57 AM
I agree with your Dad! Builders [and their painters] often cheat on new construction especially on houses that have textured walls and skip the primer 
I'd recommend applying a good latex primer over your builder's paint and then continue with your painting. Normally paint goes about 400 sq ft per gallon - I don't know how that transfers to metric 
I'd recommend applying a good latex primer over your builder's paint and then continue with your painting. Normally paint goes about 400 sq ft per gallon - I don't know how that transfers to metric 
#4
03-28-14, 07:51 PM
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I have to disagree here abut the primer. If your walls are already painted as you say then the first thing you need to figure out is, what kind of paint (water or oil) is on your surface. It's most likely a water base paint. An easy way to find out is put some rubbing alcohol or metholated spirits on a bit of rag and give the surface a bit of a wipe. If it's water base it will show immediately. If it's ol base nothing will happen. It's easy to do, watch this **********. Without being there and visualizing your project it's somewhat, "How long is a piece of string". So many variables which dictate procedure. Most likely you just didn't have enough paint and also some interior paints need to be thinned somewhat, especially for first coat. I usually allow 4 liters per room and then sometimes that's not near enough. Forget about primers. They were here when all we had was oil base products. Very raerly are they needed now days. I've had skin in he game for over 40 years and have seen just about everything to do with painting. Buy more paint. Simple
Rickaroonie
Rickaroonie
Last edited by Shadeladie; 03-29-14 at 01:07 PM. Reason: Link removed
#5
03-29-14, 05:27 AM
Welcome to the forums Rick!
I've been a professional painter since the early 70's, when I worked in central fla the SOP for many builders/painters was to apply 1 coat of cheap paint over texture The result was walls that weren't washable along with the propensity to suck up any paint that was applied over it. The best fix was to prime the painted walls in order to have a quality repaint. I do whole heartily agree that most repaints do not need a primer.
I've been a professional painter since the early 70's, when I worked in central fla the SOP for many builders/painters was to apply 1 coat of cheap paint over texture
The result was walls that weren't washable along with the propensity to suck up any paint that was applied over it. The best fix was to prime the painted walls in order to have a quality repaint. I do whole heartily agree that most repaints do not need a primer.
#7
03-29-14, 10:03 AM
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The reason Mark and I suggested primer was the paint was really soaking into the walls and therefore increasing the amount needed. By sealing with a coat of primer first, there would be need of less paint and this should result in a lower overall cost to the project.
#8
03-29-14, 12:47 PM
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Thanks marksr,
Glad to be here. I had a job years ago where the paint on an ornate ceiling was so bad (and the customer wanted to get away with costs as low as possible) that we took a short cut which I explained to him was just that and only a temporary fix. The ceiling really needed to be replaced (80 to 100 yrs old). After scraping for a couple of hrs, I just put on a coat of very thick acrylic gloss. Did the trick. It's really a binder coat rather than a primer coat. And finished with a coat of flat acrylic, maybe 2, I cant remember! lol
Glad to be here. I had a job years ago where the paint on an ornate ceiling was so bad (and the customer wanted to get away with costs as low as possible) that we took a short cut which I explained to him was just that and only a temporary fix. The ceiling really needed to be replaced (80 to 100 yrs old). After scraping for a couple of hrs, I just put on a coat of very thick acrylic gloss. Did the trick. It's really a binder coat rather than a primer coat. And finished with a coat of flat acrylic, maybe 2, I cant remember! lol
#9
03-29-14, 12:58 PM
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Hi mitch17,
I understand exactly what you guys where suggesting and why. I don't think there would be any cost saving at all. The primer has to be purchased adding to the overall cost. I haven't lived or painted in the states for a very long time now but it seems to me that over there, primers are relyed on too much. I was just a kid when water base paints were making there debut, primers and under coats where used extensively. The first coat of paint in this mans case could of simply been the top coat he was using. As long as its good quality, I don't think he would get any different result by using a primer. I've been using this system now for over 20 years with no complaints. The water base paints are that good now a days. Actually better as they are more forgiving simply from their makeup.
Rickaroonie
I understand exactly what you guys where suggesting and why. I don't think there would be any cost saving at all. The primer has to be purchased adding to the overall cost. I haven't lived or painted in the states for a very long time now but it seems to me that over there, primers are relyed on too much. I was just a kid when water base paints were making there debut, primers and under coats where used extensively. The first coat of paint in this mans case could of simply been the top coat he was using. As long as its good quality, I don't think he would get any different result by using a primer. I've been using this system now for over 20 years with no complaints. The water base paints are that good now a days. Actually better as they are more forgiving simply from their makeup.
Rickaroonie
#10
03-29-14, 01:53 PM
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Primer is typically cheaper than paint, therefore one coat of paint and one coat of primer tends to cost less than two coats of paint.
