Well, back in the old days ceilings were painted with a calcamine coating which was a powdery mix (sorta like plaster of paris is done today). If thats the case the weight of the extra paint is pulling itself off the old powdery paint. The only way to get paint to work on that ceiling if this is the case is by either scraping it off, or using a slow dry oil based primer (i.e. benjamin moore fresh start alkyd primer 024-00). If you wipe your hand on the spots the paint peeled off and you get powdery chalk like stuff on your hand its more then likely a calcamine coating. Hope this helps.

Hi kev123
Thanks for your response. I climbed up to check the ceiling and no, unfortunately, no powdery stuff :(

I wondered if the paint he applied was a) either too thick or b) too thin.

Hmmmm..the puzzle continues (and, by extension, my lack of sleep)

Thanks again.

Alkyd/oil primers are not the solution. I don't know why so many who are affliated with paint jump from the problem and try to resolve it with an oil primer as if oil is the end all in painting. It's simply not the best choice today.

Doc,

The loose, flaking paint must be removed! After that, a prime coat of GARDZ should be used to seal and bind any problem areas. The GARDZ will bind it up and dry rock hard. GARDZ is a Zinsser product and is available at Home Depot. Most paint stores will look at you with glazed eyes when you ask for it. So, unfortunately, vist the box stores for it.

Finish with two coats of 100% Acrylic paint.

Michael

Here is a link that might be useful: GARDZ

Some of the problem here is also the "surface-tension" pulling properties of latex paint when it dries. It can literally pull-off OLD coatings that aren't holding well for whatever reason.
>>> OLD oil paints on plaster get very brittle, and are easily "pulled off" by the drying nature of latexes.
>>> Did your painter prime anything b4 applying the ceiling paint? If he/she went immediately to paint, right on the patched areas too....I'd be searching for another painter, such as Michael!
>>> Michael; Believe it or no...we do have Gardz at our ACE store. We MIGHT be the only ACE/Decorating center that has C2 paint though! There's even a HD, Lowe's, & a huge Menards in town too.

faron,

I'm happy to hear that your store specializes in paints and primers. We need more hardware stores that offer specialty items, along with professional advice.

The box stores are never going to be able to accomplish the task since their interest is not the consumer, it's the financial statement.

Michael