How to paint a rendered brick wall?

jdougydoug

Hello, I have had to strip back one of my bedroom walls of a dodgy paint job (airtasker job). However once I've done this I discovered half was just a light plaster on brick, but the other half was either a smooth finish - not quite putty but similar as well as patches of a substance that won't scrape off without digging into the slim plaster(3mm thick) - almost like a glue/paint mixture. 

Obviously this is a confusing description but, will I have to remove everything to paint an undercoat or just a light roughing up before hand.

Thank you

  

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jdougydoug. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about painting a wall.

If you could provide a bit more detail about why the paint needed to be removed in the first place, it might help in addressing the issues more effectively. From your description, it seems like the paint was easily peeling off, which suggests that the wall may not have been properly primed before the original paint job was applied. Paint should never peel off that easily unless the surface wasn’t prepared correctly. If the wall is a porous plaster, you'll likely need to apply an oil-based primer, such as Dulux 1L PRECISION White Sealer Binder, which is ideal for porous surfaces.

However, before you apply the sealer binder, the surface should be as smooth and defect-free as possible. If there are any rough patches or imperfections, you may need to skim-coat the entire wall with plaster to create a smooth, even surface. Sanding the wall back to a smooth finish will ensure better adhesion for the primer and paint.

If your home is older, the wall might contain asbestos. Before proceeding with any sanding or scraping, it’s essential to have the wall professionally assessed for asbestos. If it is present, you'll need to follow the appropriate safety procedures and potentially enlist professional help for removal.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell