The house I'm in was built in Jan/Feb of '91 and has been painted (interior) only once since then... I'm in the process of doing so now.
During the prep, I've found I'm able to scrape off existing paint (as well as the popcorn ceiling texture) right down to the drywall in one pass with a scraper!
Now, I realize that it's common for builders to blow ceiling texture on without priming first . And so that discovery's not all that surprising. But the walls too? Is this happening because the walls weren't primed? Or could it be that conditions weren't right (too cold) for the paint to stick?
I really have no desire to scrape any more of it off - not if I don't have to. And so I'm looking for an out! I've heard that one way to deal with popcorn is to apply a coat of oil-based primer, and then top coat it with latex (or whatever). The reasoning being (I assume) is that the oil-based penetrates the popcorn and *glues* the whole stinkin' mess to the ceiling. The question is, Will the same trick work on my walls? And is doing so advisable? Or am I just being *anal*?
Had I not discovered this *problem* I'd have been content to just paint over everything and be done w/ it. But now that I know....... I'd prefer do it right. Or as right as possible.
Any suggestions?