How to patch surfaces with paint removed?

sarzc

Hi folks,

We have some various peeled paint spots in our house and would like to fix them all in once go. Only issue is that the spots downstairs vs upstairs look vastly different underneath the paint and I am unsure how to go about them, and whether I can fix them using the same method. Downstairs spots seem to have chalky plaster underneath, but upstairs looks like cardboard. Pictures attached.

Thanks for any advice!

EricL

Hello @sarzc

What you are seeing is actually two different surfaces, which is why they look so different underneath.

Downstairs, the chalky white material is set plaster over masonry or brick. When paint peels there, you usually just expose the plaster surface again. Upstairs, the brown cardboard looking layer is plasterboard. That brown layer is the paper face of the plasterboard sheet, and once paint pulls off and damages it, it needs a slightly different prep method.

The good news is you can repair both in the same session, but the prep is slightly different before you fill and paint.

For the downstairs chalky plaster areas, start by scraping back any loose or flaking paint with a paint scraper or filling knife until everything around the patch feels solid. Then lightly sand the edges to feather them smooth. If the plaster feels dusty or powdery, it is important to seal it before filling. A coat of Dulux Precision Sealer Binder works really well for this. It soaks in and stabilises chalky surfaces, so your filler and paint stick properly. Let that dry, then use a topping compound like Gyprock Less Mess Multi Purpose Joint Compound or Selleys Spakfilla Rapid to skim over the area, sand smooth once dry, then prime and repaint.

Upstairs is more delicate because once the plasterboard paper is torn, it can bubble if you apply wet filler straight over it. First, carefully trim off any loose or lifted paper with a sharp utility knife. Do not pull it, just cut it cleanly. Then seal the exposed brown paper with the same Dulux Precision Sealer Binder. This step is really important upstairs. Once that sealer is dry, you can skim it with Gyprock Less Mess Multi Purpose Joint Compound, feather it out, let it dry, sand smooth, and then prime and paint.

So, while the base materials are different, you can use the same system across both areas. Scrape and sand, seal with Dulux Precision Sealer Binder, fill with a quality topping compound, sand smooth, then prime and repaint. Using a good primer before your topcoat will help prevent flashing where the patches show through.

My best suggestion is to take a small paint sample and bring it to the store for paint matching.

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when working on your repairs.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric