just painted on top of some 2 year old emulsion?

Question

on a bathroom ceiling some had flaked off so i removed the loose but as i painted the emulsion on top of the existing emulsion it bubbled .It has now dried flat .Is there any preperation work i should have done and will it happen with the 2nd coat

under the original emulsion is new plaster

Answer 1

JUST keep painting
and I hope you like the colour?

Answer 2

You say the emulsion on the ceiling is 2 years old, but how old is the original surface?
I ask this 'cos the reaction to your new emulsion is what you used to get by painting over distemper, an old fashioned decorating paint!
However, it might be the formulation of the new paint that's the problem. If you are trying vinyl paint, change to basic emulsion and see.
Perhaps the ceiling has become soapy, and this is producing the 'bubbling'. Yes, you should have washed your ceiling down first before painting. Give it another go after a thorough wash and dry. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I wonder if your house is older than 50 years or so? I am guessing that you have old-fashioned distemper under the previous emulsion. This softens easily when dampened. However, if you have managed to get a coat on without flakes peeling off and relocating themselves, the next coat will probably be less of a problem. Beware of using a cheap roller, good fleecy ones usually 'suck' less than the cheap ones.

If you have more to do that you think might be in the same condition, mix PVA adhesive 1 to 5 with water and apply this as a seal (messy job!).

Answer 4

There are different types of emulsion paint
you dont say if you using vinyl matt emul or vinyl silk emul?
or what type of emul is already on?
could be that you using matt emulsion on top of silk emulsion or visa-versa
also can be caused by the roller too wet with water before you put it into the paint producing a diluted & thin paint that produces bubbles on the ceiling ( wring it out after washing & roll it on a piece of kitchen towel or newspaper to dry it out properly before you put it in the paint & use it again)
otherwise giveit a coat of any surface primer paint then paint as normal

Answer 5

I had the same once and had to employ a professional. We eventually did it right by sanding the surface and scrubbing it with soap and water - hard work but worth it .

Answer 6

surely bathroom paint would have been better because of damp etc...

Answer 7

use sugar soap and rub it down with wet and dry

Answer 8

No you are doing what i always do with no problems