30 Year Old Paint

antnepi

Hey guys. I have a customer that wants the interior of her home painted. All the existing paint is at least 30 years old and everything is oil based. What would you guys recommend as a primer? She is very perticular and wants me to use Ben Moore products. In the foyer she has this really ugly gold flake paint that has to primed.
She is going to use a primer and paint from a european company on all the trim, so I am set there.
What should I use on the plaster walls? She also has some smoke damage from a long time ago on one ceiling, what should I use for that? Most times I would use Pro Block from SW, but I can't afford for things to go wrong with this lady. Any help would be great. Thanks.

Anthony

Steve Richards

really?

Maybe you could just be honest with her, and tell her you don't even know what kind of materials to use, and suggest she hire a painter?

Mellison

Oh Snap!!!

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"Enjoy Every Sandwich" Warren Zevon

antnepi

Hey Steve. Thanks a lot. That was very helpful. Actually I was asking if anyone that was more familiar with Ben Moore products could suggest a good primer to go over old oil based paint. Any suggestions there Steve?

Steve Richards

you bet

1 guy on here a few months ago said I was so helpful, that he decided to put me on his ignore-list...whatever that means.

antnepi

Anybody have any suggestions? Steve do you want to get one more in?

Steve Richards

nope..my work here's done.

strathd

I am a carpenter and...................never mind.

sparehair

i don't have a lot of experience with benjamin moore other than double priced paint and quadruple wait times for color matches.

I would definitely watch for adhesion on that old oil paint though. Even with primer it can fail because it is sooo glossy and smooth. You probably don't want to sand. Chemical degloss may be the way to go.

DavidNTX

I'm nt too familiar with BM paints but I would be sure and use an alkyd primer. Chemical degloss is the way to go. When I was an apprentice a journeyman I was working with would put just a little deglosser in the primer. It probably wouldn't hurt to do that but....

that was 35 years ago.

Ask your BM rep. With his advice it will sure be something he would stand behind.

What are you going to use for a finish. If it is a flat looking finish on there now it is probably an alkyd flat, maybe one of those old stippling flat paints. Those can be tricky to work with. If you get a good coat of primer, an acrylic should adhere fine. Ask your rep for suggestions.

Look close at the walls to see if there is a texture. Some of those old homes with those slick plaster walls, those walls were usually brushed and some of those owners want it to stay that way. I had a customer once upon a time with walls like that and she insisted on them being brushed. I have heard others saying the same thing. It is surprising how nice a brushed wall can look.

__________________

410tip

Primer- Use a Shellac Primer on the smoke damage. BIN Shellac is a quality product and usually priced in the mid 20's per gallon. Clean your pump out with Denatured alcohol after use. Use a standard problock quality primer on the rest of the walls or wash with tsp and call it good.


Paint- Don't warranty the performance of the European**** she wants you to use. Give her a good sales pitch to use the products you're comfortable with. Mark up your paint, using Benny Moore is going to run you 30 something a gallon, charge her 45, estimate all your supplies with a mark up and be very clear with her before the job starts.

tsunamicontract

So you have questions on BM products to use. Why not ask BM? Smoke damage does need to be primed. They should be able to suggest a primer for that too
But really, you might be a lot better off subbing this to a painter, especially if "you can not afford for things to go wrong with this lady"

chris n

antnepi

Thanks guys. I had run into the same problem on another job where the sanded trim turned out to be even smoother and XIM primer didn't stick.

Paul Painter

I would use Kilz on the smoke damage then coat ceilings in Zinsser bulls eye odorless primer sealer ceiling finish product #03911..most of the time I just use the bulls eye depending on how much smoke(no kilz),for the walls I would use a good oil primer tinted to at least half the finish coat color..I find Benj. Moore paint here in Canada doesnt cover well for the expense..tint your primer well and you may cover in two finish coats with a back roll all the way..hope that helps..make sure you dust and clean first and lay fresh drop sheets.

antnepi

Thanks guys.