Peeling Paint, Over and Over

[rfj62]

Sorry about the long post.

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I need some advice on a painting situation that I am having. I redid my bathroom, took out and replaced the tub and tub surrounds, which, required me to redo the drywall. So I used the standard joint compound from Sheetrock that you get it Home Depot or Lowe's. The problem I am having is the paint keeps peeling off the wall, down to the joint compound.

I used the Olympic Zero VOC primer and paint.

The first time it happened I thought maybe I didn't let the primer dry long enough before applying the paint, about 2 hours, so I respackled and let the primer dry over night before applying the paint. The paint seems soft to the touch and nicks very easy down to the joint compound. It does not peel off where there was already paint, only the joint compound.

The 3rd time I used Kilz primer with the same results.

I used 2 different primers, 2 separate joint compounds, the paint came out of 2 different cans. Did I get bad paint, would that pull the primer right off, that's the only thing that I did change? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

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[dr_dobro]

It looks like there's no bonding with sheetrock paste and paint !
- Did you use any type of plaster in the mix?
- Did you sand the walls down and dust them off, before priming ?

I haven't seen this at all, but all those primers from the big depots don't really work well, as they are too glossy and very pasty, making the absortion too dificult on the wall.
Do you have any moist issues that is causing the paint to peel?
When painting use a lot of ventilation and in a low humidity condition. Humidity will drag the drying time for the coating you are applying, but doesn't mean you can not paint !

Make sure that walls are nicely sanded with a 220 grit, before doing the primer. Go to a local paint store and get yourself a sandable Alkyd Oil Primer (general Coatings makes a good low odor primer). Mix your Primer with paint thinner to a 3:1 ratio (. and do two coats. (One each day preferable) When rolling use a 3/8" nap in 7" long (easier to control and better results), then you will have to work slowly rolling back and forth and coming back with a dry roller to your starting point until roller seems are kind of gone). Second coat of primer will be a lot easier.
You can coat any finish on top of the primer when dried!

Explain detailed steps you took to do this job, maybe will help to understand why your paint is peeling !

 

[rfj62]

'Did you use any type of plaster in the mix?'
No, just straight out of the pail.

'Did you sand the walls down and dust them off, before priming ?'
I did sand, shop vac and wipe down with a damp cloth.

I replaced the drywall about a foot out from the tub/tub surrounds because everything mounts to the studs. I used the waterproof drywall, then blended the wall, the drywall was completely covered when I was done. I ended up putting about three coats of joint compound before I got it right. I sanded in between every coat with the 3m drywall sanding block. I patched numerous other spots through out the bathroom using the same procedures.
I then cleaned up and primed.

I'll try the the oil primer.

Thanks for your input. Jeff

 

[dr_dobro]

Let me know how you make out !
If it's hard to get general coatings, you can use Benjamin Moore Fresh Start oil primer, works great as well !.

C2 is another brand to consider, and stay away from any DESIGNER brands !!!
Dan

 

[rfj62]

Thanks Dan, I'll let you know how things turn out. Jeff

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Maybe try KILZ? That is really weird. I initially thought that you might be putting latex over oil but I see you replaced your dry wall. Odd.

 

[hydro joe]

Shellac bonds to every thing try that if all else but wear a respirator

 

[rfj62]

Thanks for the thought but is preggo, so I think I'll just go with the oil base.

 

[dr_dobro]

Also try to remove as much as you can the peeling paint until you can't anymore and before doing a skim coating to it, apply a dialuded coat of Alkyd Primer and let it dry overnight ! This will seal and prevent your skim coating job to something to grip !

Shellac has some advantages, but its not a strong element to do in a bathroom, Shellac tends to dry to a week film and needs to be dialuted to a 1:1 when applied to joint compound, this is only done in fine residences were a lacquer type of look is needed and shellac needs to be primed over with alkyd regardless for a long lasting job!

 

[rfj62]

Well, I picked up some of the Benjamin Moore Fresh Start oil primer today.

I want to cover all my bases so I have another question. I used a drywall rasp like this one,


and the sanding sponge shown here,


I use the rasp first and then the fine sanding sponge to finish it off. Is there a chance that the joint compound is too smooth?

 

[dr_dobro]

The Rasp is only to smooth the edge of a drywall !. Has coarse openings and would not recomend to do it on your skim coat job.
Sanding blocks are the best !. Fine grit is great for final sanding. A great improvement from sand paper.

Joint Compound is very porous, so you should have no problems when doing oil primer, as long is dialuded !

Killz, Zinzer, etc Latex products are not meant for Join Compound surfaces ! VOC laws are changing constantly and now Benjamin More has an Alkyd LAtex Primer?, From what I hear it will hit the north east in 2012 as is happening in CA right now! (time for classes again I guess). Coming back to the LAtex primer, from what i've observed is a lot of people attemp to do it, but they will just leave an uneven pasty spot without working the primer. Primers should always be dialuded when having a porous surfaces as they tend to absorb and dry fast to the touch !
You will experience this with oil primer. Use two sets of loaded handles when doing it (for beginers), one will use to apply and roll back and forth, the other will stay dry and will be to smooth out the seems ! (while rolling back and forth, it forces the primer to penetrate to this surface). Sorry if is a little confussing, but I'll be glad if this will help !

First coat is the most important , consecutive coatings makes it easier to apply.(try to do two coats of primer and light sanding with the sponge in between coats for primer only) !

 

[rfj62]

So if I read you correctly I should use one roller to apply and the other one to smooth out, is that right?

 

[dr_dobro]

So if I read you correctly I should use one roller to apply and the other one to smooth out, is that right?

Yes !

 

[rfj62]

I went with Benjamin Moore Fresh Start oil primer and Sherwin Williams paint, everything seems to be holding up nicely. Thanks for the advice, Jeff

Let me know how you make out !
If it's hard to get general coatings, you can use Benjamin Moore Fresh Start oil primer, works great as well !.

C2 is another brand to consider, and stay away from any DESIGNER brands !!!
Dan