Hi Everyone,

we've been in our house a few months now and are attempting to decorate the hallway. The house is late 60s so we're guessing it's not calcimine on the ceiling.
The paint on the ceiling has peeled at the edges leaving a chalky residue underneath.
We've removed all the paint from the ceiling using a scraper and most of it came away ok but there is this dusty coating remaining. Have bought some stabilising primer recommended from a diy shop (Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Primer Sealer) but that just peels straight off too. Any ideas what we should be doing. Should we just add some more coats of normal Dulux and hope for the best?

Hi Misablue...

I'm suprised the Zinnser hasn't taken, did you sand back/clean the ceiling before using it? you wan't to get rid of any "Chalkiness" if possible..

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

I'm kicking myself now, but no we didn't sand it down, just scrapped the paint off and painted over the chalky stuff hoping the Zinsser will seal it..
What shall we do now? Do we have to take it all off again?

9 times out of 10 the Zinnser will seal it...

The only way forward I can see is to sand back to remove as much chalkiness as possible, rinse thoroughly, allow to dry, and try the Bulls eye again (Make sure you stir well)

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

:-( ouhh..nothing is easy in this house..
Do you have any idea what that chalky stuff can be?
Thank you!

Distemper/whitewash probably...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distemper_(paint)

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

What sort of condition is the rest of the hall way in?

All the ceilings in my house were total pants, but the walls were OK......I just overboarded them and got a plasterer to skim - look lovely and are super smooth. Didn't pull the old ones down, so no mess.

BG

Yeah, we were worried it is distemper..

The walls are fine, it's just the ceilings that are painting, even artex which is in 3 rooms is peeling..

Overboard and skim.....

The ceilings are not in the bad shape it's just the awful distemper stuff on it. Would be pricey to have it boarded and skimmed as we can't do that ourselves..

What is best way to remove the distemper then? I realize I have to peel of the Zinsser and then what? Will it come of with washing?

For a chalky substrate they should have reccommended Zinnser Gardz not 123

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Warm water and a 3 or 4 inch brush is as good a way as any. If it actually is distemper and not a powdery surface, then wash it off. Sheet up thoroughly, as washing off distemper is a foul and messy job. Don't be tempted to dry scrub the stuff off BTW, as you will be in a world of dust in no time, and it'll go right through the house.

Thank you that is great point!!

Thanks guys for all the advice.
We had to peel of the Zinsser sealer we put on and completely remove the distemper chalky residue. We tried brushes, wallpaper scrappers in the end best option was mop with bucket of warm water.
When all distemper removed we washed it with sugar soap and painter with one coat of the Zinsser primer sealer.
Not peeled anymore ! So ceiling in the hallway is painted and done, now just rest of the house

Call in a decorator.