Putting emulsion on paint

In all my years of decorating I never came across a glossed ceiling. You might be looking at Vinyl Silk, or other semi-gloss emulsion, or possibly eggshell. There's no easy way to tell which it is, but you could try a blowtorch or hot air gun. If the paint "melts" it's likely an oil-based paint. If not, it's probably an emulsion.

If it's an emulsion, then just rub it down lightly with some well-worn scratch, and paint over. You could, if you're feeling short of things to do, wash it with sugar soap, but I gave that up after the first time - unless the paint is severely discoloured or filthy, it's not worth bothering.

If it's a gloss paint, then you have different options. You could do it the hard way - rub down properly to create a good "key", then a coat of oil-based undercoat. This will take an emulsion finish without cissing. The easy way would be to use a preparation called ESP (Easy Surface Preparation)

Good luck

Edward

I accidentally painted a bit of wall with oil eggsell, and then painted it over with the correct emulsion. Seems OK.

Maybe worth a sand to scuff the surface up, but its not exactly taking a lot of stress on a ceiling is it.

I have checked and it is definitely gloss paint on the ceiling :(

Just try a patch and see if it all slides off.

Use a water based primer or primer/undercoat.

cheers, Pete.

Hang head in shame time.

Once (when I was young and daft) thought a gloss ceiling was a good idea so painted it with gloss. This lasted all of a month before I painted it over with emulsion. Did no prep work on the gloss and had no problems with the paint flaking off. Maybe this was due to the shortage of time between coats and if a greater time between coats a light "scuffing" or even a proper rub down *may* be required.