After some advice on whether I need to sand or not.
The current walls are a low sheen white with water based paint. I can scrape the paint off with my fingernails if I pick at it with minimal effort to reveal the previous paint.
Does this mean the current paint is not adhering well and I need to sand it back and paint primer to give the new paint a good base to adhere to? I am worried about it flaking or bubbling up in the future if I paint over the current paint.
Thanks very much for any help!
It's the prep part that I'm worried about. I could pay somebody but I like to learn where I can.
I.e. Are there any tests I can do to know whether a wall can be repainted or whether there needs to be any sanding/priming done beforehand?
A good test is to see if you can scrape the paint off with your fingernails with minimal effort. If you can reveal the previous paint, then you'd need to sand.
I don't know why your initial comment got negged. OP is asking such a basic question that their first layer of undercoat is going to be covered in dust by the time they finish asking what to do next. OP literally can see the previous layer of paint under the current one that he can pick off with a fingernail, and needs to ask:
Does this mean the current paint is not adhering well
…….
Sanding is one thing. Cleaning is another. Fair chance last painter did neither. You'll need to get all the existing paint off, even if some of it did adhere well, because you'll see that edge. Either scrape it all off, or sand out those bits. If the wall is fairly flat and smooth, will only need a light sand. But make sure it's clean. Sugar soap is good for that. Then prime and paint. Good prep and following manufacturer instructions will see that material stay on for decades.
wow.. u can scrape the paint off the walls with your finger nail? damn its usually the trim and doors that do that (if done badly)… the paint under must be oil paint then. water paint cant adhere to most oil paints with out alot of prep first. can u scrape off everywhere or just different spots?
Good post ego 22…….IMHO if you can peel the current paint off then it needs to go, 100% NO to painting over it.
As ego 22 has hinted at, there may have been poor preparation OR paint applied to an unsuitable surface…no I don't know how you determine which, sorry.
I can scrape off pretty much everywhere
then u have to scrape off everything. then sand the walls. because you dont know why its peeling, i would put a oil based undercoat on after. thin it down with a bottle of turps. that will cover all bases. wear a mask and open all windows.
source
- painter for 15 years.
Does the current wall paint look recent or old? Just trying to find out if it's the application/preparation is wrong or it could even be the paint.
I've never heard of paint peeling off like you said in a interior wall. Is it flaky when peeled or does it crumble?
If you said it was plastic or metal then preparation is 100% the issue if peeling.
It doesn't look super old? If I had to say, possibly in the last seven years which was the time the previous owner lived there.
I know their preperation was cramp because there's paint all over the trim and tape that was painted over and not removed.
Yeah it's hard to pinpoint. It could be numerous reasons. They could of even added water to the paint and affected the quality + the bad preperation.
Though it has been 7 years and if done incorrectly then it would peel.
It's only peeling because I scratched at it. Other than that it's not peeling itself anywhere.
The top coat is only as good as the substrate. If you can scrape off the current finish then you will need to sand it back. If there are multiple coats of various different paint it is hard to know where the breakdown has occurred and why. You don't need to get professional to do it but you you may get a better finish if you do. Use a decent prep coat, it may be tempting to cut back and use a cheaper product but you may regret it down the track.
This is normally a popular time of year to paint so there are likely to be good deals at retailers on premium quality paint (6lts at same price or cheaper than 4lts). I purchased a 6lt primer at a hardware store for $7 cheaper than the 4lt price.
If you're confident enough to do it yourself, then you should already know the answer. If you're not, then get a professional painter to advise and provide a quote.