Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Aug 01, 2002 04:45am | #1

   Any chance this is old Merusco paint? It was nothing but chalk! I don't know if there's a solution to that stuff.

   Sample to the paint store may help...

   Excellence is its own reward!
1. 
   Qtrmeg | Aug 01, 2002 07:57am | #2

   Gawd, I am so sick of answering painting questions, I have to get my dad on a computer.

   If it is chalking you are screwed. How simple is that? Why is it "chalking"? Your substrate failed to suport your paint system. Why? What is your substrate, what is your paint system? Until you know this your SW genius can only take a stab in the dark. You could have the perfect product that were applied below temp.

   What is the extent of the failure, 10%, 50%, 90%? Because without taking a sample to a chemist you are grasping at straws, but you could come up with a plan by using your head. Depending on the failure you can come up with a prep plan, a simple test could determine what the finish is, I think acetone disolves latex?

   It would be a hell of a lot easier to go to Home Depot and ask them what to do.

1. 
   Piffin | Aug 01, 2002 08:21am | #3

   I am so sick of answering painting questions,

   Why do you think your Dad taught you everything he knows and half of what he didn't?

   ;)Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Qtrmeg | Aug 02, 2002 04:25am | #4

   Thanks for the brain adjustment, Pif, I won't be so grumpy next time. ;-)

   As it turns out the geezer has a birthday on the 11th, he will be 81. I would buy him a computer but Ma has one, (and yes she is hooked), and he won't go near the thing. Too new age or something, heck, he is a decade or so into figuring out how to set the time on the vcr.

   I've yet to tell him the "bench" story, maybe he will get a kick out of it if I print it out. Ya, like I could find it here, lol.

2. 
   andybuildz | Aug 02, 2002 04:31am | #5

   Paneling!!!!!

   Be well

            Namaste'

                           Andy

   It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   Qtrmeg | Aug 02, 2002 05:59am | #6

   Wow, talk about needing an adjustment, I didn't even notice that Pete asked this question.

   This won't be pretty, and I don't know if it will work for your job, but this is what I would do. I would pressure wash the surface to blow off the failed coating. Go thru the job at a comfortable speed, then go back and do it again, because the water will work to soften what doesn't come off on the first trip. You have to be careful to keep the pressure down so you don't destroy anything, the temptation is to do this on one pass, but the water will soften the coating up after time. You will get a feel for how much good the pressure washing is doing, and you will know when to stop. I would be surprised if you don't blow the finish coat right off, or nearly so.

   Once there, let dry and sand. I favor exterior 100% acrylic latex paints for garages, but you should be good to go with whatever. Just do not use a vinyl acrylic, ever.

1. 
   Piffin | Aug 02, 2002 06:06am | #7

   I've got another idea that will be about the same but simpler.

   Pressure wash it two or three times. Have fun and a few beers while doing it.

   Call your insurance company about a claim for water damage and get the SR replaced.

   Just kidding, I can't really advocate fraud - but you might need the policy if you pressure wash this wall.

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Qtrmeg | Aug 03, 2002 04:01am | #8

   Pif, I have done this exact thing several times. What can I say. If you hand scrape you will lose more paint when the new coating softens it up, or later. 

   If a pressure washer scares you then use a wallpaper steamer, same technology. You have to control whatever tool you use, and I am advocating moisture to remove the failed coating.

   I could be wrong, won't be the first time.

1. 
   Piffin | Aug 03, 2002 05:14am | #9

   I'll have to take your word for it. I never thought you could turn down the pressure that much.

   I definitely agree about the vinyl acrylic! Don't!

   I wonder if the fact that this is a garage contributed to the condition. I can visuallize more temperature changes, moisture from car exhaust and rain/snow drippings, Maybe even a reaction from carbon monoxide, ?Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   gturmtrunin | Aug 03, 2002 08:27am | #10

   did a 100 year old brick exterior complete with brick garden walls and brick heat pump enclosure. moisture @ every sprinkler head,@ every wall girdled by soaker hoses plenty of moisture around the heat pump.  all contributed to the failure of paint jobs long past chalky mess not withstanding all those mortar lines act like roman aqueducts in the presence of moisture add a little rain or in your case steam/ multiple pressure washings and you'll have enough moisture bleeding back at you to pop off even SW's loxon primer pricey stuff but just what your looking for.  hand scrape chisel pressure wash do what ever it takes it ain't gonna be easy and its going to take a lot but if you've got failing paint and chalk what ever else you hang on those walls wont stick.  its imperative you let your substrate (wall) dry and when you think its dry let it dry some more use your 5in 1 as you go. spray w/ a 21 tip and back roll w/ a thick nap roller keep a brush handy for the stubborn places follow up with SW's conflex finish

3. 
   StokestheFire | Aug 03, 2002 03:41pm | #11

   This is a common problems in a warm, humid climate.  What will cut the chalk and leave a surface closer to an adherant one is vinegar.  I use a spray bottle for application.  What I'm doing currently is prepping chalky walls to paint.  I scrape all loose material, then if the chalk is bad, I soak it with vinegar and leave it for a short.  This will also help any other bubbling occur, which is the time you want to find it (not while painting).  I then go back, check scraping, then clean the area with household cleaner with a little vinegar added by spraying that on, then strongarm rubbing with a rag or a stiff bristle brush.  I  clean that with a fresh water rinse, wiping and rubbing again.  If I'm using rags, I'll use a colored one for the cleaning fluid, because small parts of the rag will come apart and be left on the surface...a great visual aid.  When I'm cleaning with fresh water, I use only white rags.  Once it's all dry, you should be good to go...

   
   

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   Edited 8/3/2002 6:57:33 PM ET by NICKSTOKES