Emulsion used on lime walls

[KelvinM]

Hi all

Got a very annoying situation. We hired a painter to re-paint one of our bedrooms. Half of the bedroom is lime plaster, whilst the other is gypsum plaster. Given this mix, I specifically asked for him to use casein distemper as this will allow the lime to breathe but can also be applied to the gypsum plaster. I've just come home to find that he has used emulsion (he said he picked it up by accident!). I am absolutely fuming but unfortunately he has already done one full coat.

Is there anything we can do to rectify this situation? For example, is it ok to rub down the lime walls so that the paint is removed and then recoat with distemper?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[robgil]

Do you need to use a breathable paint? Sometimes you dont.
I have silk emulsion painted directly onto daub on a lot of walls here and apart from me not liking its appearance it is causing no damage what so ever to the walls.
Really , i think in most circumstances the worst that can happen is if moisture tries to exit the wall the emulsion will bubble out.
Is it matt emulsion? Matt emulsion will wash off wont it?

 

[MdB]

If it is trade matt then my understanding is this is very breathable as it doesn't have any vinyl in it. It is used by builders as it can be put on new (i.e. wet) walls and doesn't stop them from drying out. If it is vinyl or vinyl/silk then it won't be (very) breathable nor will it wash off but as robgil states, does it need to be?

edit - trade matt main ingredients appear to be lime and clay + the old favourite titanium oxide so is likely to be very breathable.

 

[KelvinM]

Hi

Thanks for the replies. He has used F&B estate emulsion, so I'm not sure how good or bad that is.

Sounds to me from the replies that it isn't too much of a problem after all.

Rgds

 

[robgil]

OMG! , No not F+B? Sweet Jesus!
Only joking.
Just keep an eye out for condensation , damp patches , mould or bubbling.

 

[AMc]

Google shows me...
http://www.farrow-ball.com/interior-walls-ceilings/content/fcp-content

If you look at the datasheets for their Estate Emulsion and their Casein Distemper it looks like Estate is a little over half as vapour permeable as the distemper.
There are no figures for their soft distemper or modern emulsion but the modern emulsion is recommended for kitchens and bathrooms and where wiping and cleaning is expected which suggests a plastic component.

They also say...

The paint finish that creates the signature look of Farrow & Ball. Suitable for use throughout the home on ceilings and walls, it has a chalky matt finish and unrivalled depth of colour. Its traditional formulation and ingredients haven't changed in decades and it has more pigment in every tin than other emulsions. Available in all 132 colours. Minimal VOC content. Wipeable.

My emphasis, I guess it depends how many decades...more than 5?

Estate Emulsion Datasheet
http://www.farrow-ball.com/pws/client/images/content/advicesheets/UK_Estate_Emulsion.pdf

Water vapour permeability: 727.1 grams/m²/24 hrs measured on 2 coats.
This measures the rate at which water evaporates from the substrate through the paint film, measured over a period of 24 hours.

Casein Distemper Datasheet
http://www.farrow-ball.com/pws/client/images/content/advicesheets/UK_Casein_Distemper.pdf

Water vapour permeability : 1267 grams/ m²/24 hrs measured on two coats.
This measures the rate at which water evaporates from the substrate through the paint film, measured over a period of 24 hours.

Looks to me like you'll be fine, especially in bedrooms. On ground floor rooms with existing issues I'd be tempted to rub down a single coat and paint again but upstairs I'd relax.

 

[Penners]

upstairs I'd relax.

Me too. I can understand that you're very annoyed with the painter, but given the problems of getting the paint off and the very slim chance that damp is likely to be a problem that far above ground level, I think I'd just leave things as they are.

 

[robgil]

Damp wont be a problem, condensation might if the humidity levels start to rise because the walls are no longer sucking some of the moisture out of the air. Does the house have a DPM under the downstairs floor?
Then again i could be completely wrong.

 

[Lime]

Google shows me...
http://www.farrow-ball.com/interior-walls-ceilings/content/fcp-content
.........They also say...

The paint finish that creates the signature look of Farrow & Ball. Suitable for use throughout the home on ceilings and walls, it has a chalky matt finish and unrivalled depth of colour. Its traditional formulation and ingredients haven't changed in decades and it has more pigment in every tin than other emulsions. Available in all 132 colours. Minimal VOC content. Wipeable.

My emphasis, I guess it depends how many decades...more than 5?

IME F&B paints have altered substantially over the last 20 years.
I liked it at one time when it was an old-fashioned paint supplier.
It sure ain't that now!

However the wording "Its traditional formulation and ingredients haven't changed in decades" does not state that F&B have retailed the paint for that time.
(It may imply it but that is a different matter)
What it claims is that the recipe/formulation hasn't been altered.
The word "traditional" suggests it is a conventional, long established formulation universally used by many paint manufacturers at some period in the past.

Even 40 years ago the paints being produced by ICI et al were "modern" i.e. not old-fashioned formulations so it is possible the "traditional" formulation harks from that era!

I'm reminded of a TV advert from several years ago that made claims for a tomato sauce mix using a 50 year old italian recipe.
Being the cynical type that I am I did the maths.

The recipe would have been formulated just after Italy's disasterous defeat in the second world war when everything would have been in short supply and good quality ingredients almost impossible to acquire.

Hence the recipe was made to minimal specifications using anything they could get hold of!

Not a very good recommendation IMO.

 

[AMc]

:? That was my point :? Decades could easily mean it was traditionally formulated in 1990 , 5 or more would suggest it was a bit more 'traditional' than dulux 1 coat - the wording has been carefully chosen which is why I emphasised it.

The horse having bolted on the OP's first coat I figured the breathability measurements were worth noting.

I wouldn't recommend a first or second coat of pasta sauce - our daughter had a couple of attempts at that as a toddler and it's very difficult to get even coverage.