Should I fully remove the peeling paint from my 67-year-old wall and repaint to prevent further peeling?
Asked by Noelia LangÄker 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 12, 2024
Hey, have you noticed that the paint on the wall is starting to peel all the way down to the plaster? It’s been up for around 6 or 7 years now, so it’s definitely not a new job. Do you think I should keep scraping until all the loose paint is gone, and then prime and paint over it again? I’m worried that the entire wall might end up peeling…
I’d suggest trying to scrape off a small section in other areas to see if it comes off easily. If it does, then it’s best to remove all of it. The person who painted it before clearly made a mistake. Plus, if you don’t peel it off, you’ll need to sand the edges and blend it well, otherwise, the lines will show.
I’m a fan of the unfinished look of raw plaster đ
I’d start by peeling gently from the bottom. If it doesn’t peel off easily, use a plastic scraper until you find a good spot to start. This is exactly what we did.
Seems like it’s latex without any primer, ugh. I would scrape off as much as possible, then use compound to smooth out any transitions – let it dry and sand it down. It might take a few coats. After that, prime it with water-based alkyd primer/sealer and paint with water-based alkyd paint.
When I have to remove the peel, I usually start by cutting an inch back with a utility knife. If it seems stuck, I apply some mud, sand, prime, and paint over it. I don’t want to peel off the entire wall. It’s been about 4 years and nothing has changed.
Are those silk walls or just a matte finish?