How to prepare ceiling and walls for painting?

cakes287

Advice please. 

Our house was given a lipstick coat of paint prior to sale where they essentially just painted over everything without prepping the surfaces. The ceilings in particular look like they had chipped and peeling paint that have been painted over. 

I’d like to re do them, they don’t need to be perfect but better than they are currently. 

Do I just start by sanding the ceiling down? I have an electric sander. 

MitchellMc

Hi @cakes287,

It looks like what you’re dealing with is old paint that’s cracked and lifted, and then been painted straight over. Those cracks will have raised edges that protrude, so if you just sand straight away, you’ll likely still be left with weak, delaminated edges around the damage.

The first step is to go in with a razor scraper and remove anything that’s loose or sitting proud of the surface. Don’t be shy here. It’s better to knock back more rather than less; otherwise, you’ll only end up with more flaking later. Work the scraper under the edges of the cracks and chip away until you’re back to solid, well-adhered paint or plaster.

Once you’ve removed all the loose material, you’ll likely have some shallow voids. These can be filled with a plaster filler. Apply the filler with a broad knife, feathering the edges so it blends into the surrounding surface. Let it dry thoroughly, then sand it back flush with your ceiling.

After you’ve got everything flat and smooth, apply an undercoat over the repaired areas. This step helps to bind the surface, prevent future peeling, and ensures your topcoat adheres properly. Finally, repaint the ceiling with your chosen finish.

You could certainly just sand and skim coat if you wanted, but without scraping back first, you risk trapping more of that weak paint underneath and seeing the same problem return. Taking the time to do the prep properly will give you a much longer-lasting and better-looking result. 

Here's a helpful guide: How to paint a ceiling.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell