Peeling/flaking paint problem

[sairejayne]

Our lounge has flaking/peeling paint at the top of some walls and in some corners. It has been that way since we have moved in and we are now looking to decorate this room.
What would be the best way to remedy this?
Not sure of the actual cause. Don't think it can be damp, as the room is not damp and no sign of mould etc. Think it may just be old or cheap paint.
Will i need to remove all paint or just flaking areas?
Thanks

[theshedman]

Hi, sounds like the paint may have been put on to thickly without putting on a mist coat first which would cause it to peel as it won't adhere to the walls properly. Another thing that would do this is if it has got the old type ceiling white on and not emulsion. To see if it is ceiling white try washing it off where the paint has peeled and it will probably go back to bare plaster. Let us know.

[sairejayne]

It is not the ceiling but the walls, just below the architrove and other areas. We have recently had a new ceiling (to banish the terrible artex we had).
Paint doesn't seem thick, seems very thin - could this be cause?

[theshedman]

You will need to remove all the loose flaking paint before you put on any more and it would be better if you could find out what caused it in the first place. Which is why I said about trying to wash it off first where it has already peeled. How old is the house? You said that it was peeling at the top of the walls, usually architrave is usually found around windows and doors not at the top of walls or is it coving that you are meaning.

[sairejayne]

Lol, yes coving! The house is 1974ish

[theshedman]

Ok where the paint is flaking does it go back to bare plaster or is there a greyish colour under it which washes off.

[sairejayne]

Hi theshedman, I have just checked and under flaking paint there is a white colour and this does wash off with a damp sponge to the bare plaster.

[theshedman]

Then you will need to take off all loose stuff and wash it back to bare plaster. The chances are that it will only be the top of the walls and the odd bit here and there that wil need this doing to it. If you just emulsion over it then it will probably peel again. Take what you can back to bare then put a mist coat on which is a watered down coat of emulsion then finish with 2 coats of unwatered down stuff. The mist coat will seal the wall and stop this happening in the future.

[sairejayne]

Thank you!
So is it the original paint which has caused it?

[theshedman]

Most probably. Looks like whoever did it the first time either didn't clean the old stuff off or used a very cheap emulsion which washes off. A decent make like Dulux won't wash off like the cheap ones do.

[AlBags]

Unclean surfaces .. or full of cigarette/nicotine smoke for too long.
Walls need cleaning properly.

[theshedman]

It is a strange place for it to be dirty and usually if it's nicotine it would cause new paint to yellow but not the old stuff to peel.

[AlBags]

Well cigarette smoke settles as an oily residue. What do you think that will do to a paint bond?

[theshedman]

Hi AlBags, I only answer questions as I see them. I worked for many years as a decorator and never came across a case where nicotine had caused the paint to peel like sairejayne says it has, not saying it couldn't happen just giving my own suggestion as to a cure. It is sometimes hard to give definitive answer on here as no picture to go with question. Usually if the walls are dirty, when you start painting the paint will go into bubbles or not stick properly like if there is paste from old wallpaper still on the walls. In some houses I worked in I spent 3 days or more just getting the ceilings and walls washed and sealed before I could start on decorating because of the customer having smoked. Sairejayne says that under the peeling paint it was a white paint which washed off which is why I gave the answer I did.