Help with fixing bad interior paint job with minimal surface prep

5 years ago

Hello!

We recently purchased a 1960s ranch house and hired someone who we thought was a reputable painter, who is licensed and bonded. His crew started out doing good work, then they rushed the second half. It appears that they did not wash or prime the walls or trim. Im guessing its been close to 20 years since the walls were last painted. When i washed sections to prime and paint test swatches i saw they were quite dirty. Three days after they finished and some areas can wipe right off due to poor adhesion. The photo is the trim in the bathroom where paint sagged and then wiped off.

Repair is complicated because all the walls have a knockdown texture and the texture layer contains asbestos, so the walls cant be sanded past the bottom paint layer.

What is the correct way to repair a paint job completed without cleaning or priming the walls? Is it different knowing the surface texture contains asbestos? Is it best to touchup the parts they did really poorly and then wait for areas to fail before repainting, or is it better to redo the work now?

Any tips are appreciated!

Featured Answer

millworkman

5 years ago

If the paint is not sticking the only way to go is strip it all off. You cannot repair of go over not properly prepped. As far as asbestos, you either leave it alone 100% or you encapsulate it (cover it with paneling or fresh drywall) if you do not want to properly remediate it. Are you 100% sure it is asbestos? Have you had it tested?

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Comments (7)

PRO
Elegant Kitchen and Bath
5 years ago
Hi!

It seems like it was an issue caused by water leakage or moisture accumulation.

Scrape off the offending bits, then use your 150-grit sandpaper to smooth the wall. Tack it and paint again. If you can’t get a big blister smooth, you may have to spackle the wall, let it dry, and then sand it smooth.

What causes blisters and bubbles anyway? You likely have an adhesion problem which can happen if you put latex over oil paint, or tried to paint a dusty, greasy area and skipped cleaning or priming first. Getting impatient between coats and re-coating too soon can also cause bubbling.
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cat_ky
5 years ago
I suspect improper prep, but, also that paint was 20 yrs old, and was probably oil based and they didnt use the proper primer on it, so the latex paint that is used now, is just peeling right off, and will continue to do so.
PRO
User
5 years ago
Strip it. Or remove all the trim and redo with all new trim. Which is likely the cheaper job when remediation is incolved. It minimizes the remediation time.
PRO
Rockin' Fine Finish
5 years ago
Pretty much everything that has been said already start over. That would be the solution. Try and get a credit from them
strategery
5 years ago
Demo trim, strip walls and skim/patch where required, start over with pro.
Sigrid
5 years ago
My painter gave me a guarantee. You sdhould have them redo it.