Crappy paint - Now what?

[Len]

We just moved in last December (2008), less than 6 months prior several rooms in the house had been painted. So it's been 1 year at most and here are the issues I'm having.



I have 3 kids, so cleaning the walls in some areas is necessary, I have to be extremely gentle or the paint comes off.
In our bathroom (not vented) it's cracking.



In both areas it's the same paint.
What do I need to do to repair the bathroom?
What can I do about cleaning the other areas and make it more durable?

[Workaholic]

The paint that you are cleaning is it flat, satin, eggshell, semi-gloss? There are some washable flats in the market place today but they are meant for a very light wash, your best bet for a surface that can take a good washing would be eggshell and semi-gloss. Obviously oil is the most washable but I doubt you want to go there.
I am going to assume that you have flat paint on the walls and when you say that it is comming off you mean that it is leaving the paint color on your cleaning agent, not pulling off in chips/chunks/strips.
Your best bet is to paint the area again with a more washable/scrubable paint or you will have this problem untill you do. Also remeber if you do repaint the area you should wait 20 -30 days before trying to wash it for a true curing of the product.

The bathroom should have a vent put in. Do you know what kind of paint you have in there now? Not knowing the extent of the cracking i will just go with the severe case of cracking.
Scuff sand any loose or failing paint, make sure that you got it all. Skim coat the surface sand and repeat as necessary. Prime skim coat with an oil base sealer and repaint. Without fixing the ventalation problem this problem could return so that should be addressed first. Also if you have another bathroom to use during the process that is also recommended and for shortly after the project is over as well.

[Bender]

Sean pretty much covered it.
Switch to a semi-gloss in the bathroom and maybe a satin finish where the kids are beating up the walls.

You sure thats not a water problem?

[Silvertree]

I think its a moisture problem, not a paint problem. Regardless of brand.

I would be looking for a gutter back up problem, or roofing leak, pin hole in supply line ect. The paint was installed on damp walls.

I may not be a painter, but I did hundreds of repairs. Moisture in the walls coming into the home is what that looks like.

[Dusty]

That's an awful lot of pealing for only 1yr. I have a feeling that the previous owner tore wall paper down and didn't prep the wall properly. Usually moisture problems will start on or near the ceiling. But if there is wall paper glue behind the paint you will see almost immediate damage especially in a showered bathroom

What condition is the ceiling in?

[Len]

It is a flat paint. When I clean it will actually rub off and leave a mark.

From the sounds of it the bathroom is probably from a couple of issues combined, one if which I'll have to see about getting a vent installed.

It's likely it had been papered before on friend other things arond it would appear the previous occupants were not too mechanically inclined. The peeling is mostly the top 2ft.

Thanks for the input.
Looks like a another job done to limit the expense only to have to be redone right.

[Silvertree]

At the least Len you could scrape, float, oil prime and probably get by.

Its too late to remove old glue now.

[naptownCr]

The peeling is mostly the top 2ft.

Thanks for the input.
Looks like a another job done to limit the expense only to have to be redone right.

Sounds like moisture to me The vent will help BUT you need to turn it on

[WarnerConstInc.]

I see that happen when someone paints over a shiney oil based paint.

[Allrounder]

I see that happen when someone paints over a shiney oil based paint.

This is what I was thinking--perhaps the previous paint was glossy and the repaint was flat without poper prep.

[Dusty]

If that is latex over oil it would scratch off easily. Wouldn't there be more of a bubbling effect before cracking occured if that was the case? Just a thought.

[WarnerConstInc.]

If that is latex over oil it would scratch off easily. Wouldn't there be more of a bubbling effect before cracking occured if that was the case? Just a thought.

Everyone I have seen, crakels like that then starts to peel.

[Mike(VA)]

That cracking appears to be common when paint is applied over something on the wall such as wallpaper paste, hairspray, oils from body sprays, etc. Being common by the ceiling may mean particles of the contaminant adhered due to excessive moisture. It just means the bonding effect never happened. I would scrape the affected areas, maybe skim coat a bit if rough, and prime with an oil-based primer, paint with matte, eggshell, or semi gloss. If it was a problem of latex over oil, the problem should be all over.

[Msargent]

Try Oil primer then patching ,then another primer ,then try a kitchen and bath paint. Then fix the ceiling fan or it will keep happening. Do it once and do it right.

[The Roofing God]

Referring to the unvented bathroom.either way,make sure to vent the bathroom (to outside the house,not into the attic),as this is a big cause of mold growth,which can be very dangerous to your family`s health