Here’s the situation. Bathroom remodel, homeowner painted the drywall a week and a half ago and it still has some tack to it. Enough that I can get a piece of paper to stick like a post-it note. The wainscot and trim I installed is painted with different paint and is set and all good.
I’m not wanting to mount any hardware or cabinets becasue they will become truly permanent fixtures in that bathroom. Now I’m not a painter and never even played one on TV, so I’ve never seen this before to know if this is bad paint, bad prep or what?
Here are the facts.
-90% of the walls had a previous coat of Acrylic latex paint. I did some mudding in a couple spots, but very little.
-The paint is Lowes Ultra Premium “Valspar” Interior Kitchen and Bath Enamel. 3 coats.
-Bathroom shower is being used but there is a fan that comes on with the light. But again the wainscot and trim dried nice, so I think we can rule out high humidity being a casue.
Anybody have any friggen clue what is going on here? Does this stuff really need a month to dry? Help, I need to get this job wrapped up.
Replies
Some things.
Did they let it dry between coats?
Did they stir well and frequent b/4 adding paint to the roller pan?
Beats me-some solvent based paints, varnishes and urethanes would "not dry" if not stirred continuously during use. I have no idea if that's the case with latex enamels.
when you say the owners painted, did they paint raw drywall, or was there a PVA coat on prior to or after texture?
is there a vapor barrier inside the wall?
The valspar is an interesting product and i have had good results.
did they use an addative like 'flowtrol"?
I had the same proble when remodeling a kitchen years ago, the wall (existing) near the stove wouldnt take paint. i eventually removed the drywall and repainted. my only thought was that it had grease residue between the layers of previous paint jobs.
Answer to questions asked so far.
"Did they let it dry between coats?"
I will say yes as this painting process took two days.
"Did they stir well and frequent b/4 adding paint to the roller pan?"
A question I asked and the answer is yes. stired for a couple minutes. Small bath so likely rolled with one pan full.
"when you say the owners painted, did they paint raw drywall, or was there a PVA coat on prior to or after texture?"
See orginal post.... Right over old paint that had been sanded, by me, to knock down small bumps and such.
"is there a vapor barrier inside the wall?"
No, all interior walls. House is about 10 years old.
"did they use an addative like 'flowtrol"?"
Nope. straight out of can.
"
"Did they let it dry
"
"Did they let it dry between coats?"
I will say yes as this painting process took two days."
Time means little.
In damp and cool environemt two days per coat may be needed
Sounds like the paint may have frozen.
"The paint is Lowes Ultra
"The paint is Lowes Ultra Premium "Valspar" Interior Kitchen and Bath Enamel. 3 coats."
If this is an oil based enamel and theeydid niot let it flly cure between coats, it will ake foirever to cre, because it needs contact with oxygen and not just evaporative 'drying' time. Heat and a fan might help - maybe....
more reply
Dan H, Exactally what I thought or they used the wrong tint base, thus having to add too much tint to make the desired color.
Piffin, When this went on day two of not drying a fan was added along with running the vent fan. After about 48 hours of that not working, a space heater was put in the room that also had it's own fan. Gave up on that after 24 hours running time.
Specs on the can says dries to the touch in 30- 60 minutes... Recoat in 2-4 hours. Temp in the house remains a mid to high 60's and this is Michigan in early spring so relative humidity in the house, without a humidifier, is low. Plus I wouldn't let them use the shower in that bath in the early going of this delima, but gave up on that fight after a few days.
sdr
I assume by now that someone has attempted contact with the paint company?
What was their response?
I wonder if wiping it with japan drier would accomplish anything.
I also see a few web pages discussing ammonia to help dry latex -- might be worth trying wiping down with that (if you can stand the smell).