Interesting questions, but ones that do come up with older homes. First, let me make some general comments.
1. If the more recent interior paints have been applied directly over the old plaster and are failing, then the problems are not due to the paint alone.

2. If several different interior paints have been used and they all exhibit peeling problems, the problems are not due to the paint alone.

3. If there is peeling paint on the ceiling near an exterior wall of an older home, this generally indicates a moisture problem or water leak problem.

4. Generally, interior paint does not peel unless there is a substrate issue, since there is no “Harsh Weather” to stress the paint.

Other Comments:
1. You must look at the locations where the paint is peeling on the walls to try to get a feel for what might be a contributing cause for the peeling paint.
a. Is it high on the walls or low on the walls?
b. Is it near or around electrical outlets?
c. Does it appear to run in vertical or horizontal streaks?
d. Is it only on exterior walls or on all the walls?
e. Does it show a common pattern?
f. etc.

2. If you find a pattern-then seek the source of the surface problem; ie, water leaks, moisture over or around electrical boxes or moisture around radiators or vents. Keep in mind that older homes had much less or no insulation in the walls.

3. For those areas that continually peel back to the old plaster-consider
a. Scraping all old paint away
b. Sanding or roughing the surface
c. Measuring the alkalinity of the plaster (PH). If to high PH (over 12-12) must apply a fresh skim coat of a newer variety that doesn’t retain a high pH.
d. Apply a bonding primer or clear wall sealer that will “penetrate” into the plaster for a better “grip”.
Please call our Tech line 1-800-262-8469 #120

XIM Team

Some of this peeling started within a month or two after the last coat was put on. (We did have the painter come back and fix that, which we thought was done properly, but within a year and 1/2 of the fix it has started again.) Most of the peeling started a few years after painting (5 or more years). Except for one area on an outside wall, all the peeling areas are on the ceiling.

1) What is going on here??? If the original plaster was not primed, or not primed properly, why is it taking 50 years to show up? (The one area that we had fixed and is again peeling was primed and painted directly to the plaster, so I’m not sure it can be a problem of “too many coats/too heavy” paint.

2) What can we do to fix this? How do we know that any new coats aren’t just going to peel back off? Will any of your products bond any new paint, not only to the last coat of paint, but all the way through to the plaster?

Thanks so much for your help…Heidi

The application of the Trim Magic will help “fill” the resulting rough surface. If any peeled area is too deep and rough you may need more than one application of the Trim Magic, or you may have to live with the fact that the rough edges may show through since you are choosing not to sand or “feather-sand” any peeled edges. But, when applied thickly you will be forming a thick, well bonded primer film over the old paint surface. And the surface will be ready for the Benny Moore latex paint.

I personally have had excellent results with SW Super Paint, SW Durations and SW A-100.

The south and west side of the house can cause more problems with weathering due to the constant afternoon sun, however the Trim Magic and top grade acrylic trim paint system has tested in the lab and in field conditions to outlast conventional paint systems 3:1.

XIM TEAM

Two years ago I scrapped all window trim (true divided lites, no less), sanded and primed. I then sanded the primer and primed again. I topcoated, sanded that and topcoated again. Result? Cracking, peeling paint on all windows. I did NOT use cheap products, I bought the best.

My nephew is a professional painter (Kent, Ohio). He recommended your product.

I am leaning towards Trim Magic. I would like to topcoat with Sherwin Williams best product. Can you recommend one?

Location: Grapeview, Washington.

Any help appreciated.

Durability – it beats the older alkyd technology primers and yet is a latex product.

The surface to be primed just needs to be sound and free from contamination.

Make sure that the siding is well vented. It is easy to apply the Peel Bond very heavy and end up sealing the siding too well. The humidity and moisture from living in the house needs to be able to escape. That’s why siding is vented. Also remember that Peel Bond or any primer can not fix underlying moisture problems or boards that have rotted wood; those boards need to be replaced.

One of the biggest advantages of Peel Bond is its ability to be applied thickly. With the incorporation of the X-Stay Technology, the peel Bond can now be applied even more thickly if required.

Also remember that the law recently changed with respect to painting and repairing older homes ( pre 1978 ). The painters not have to be trained and certified in dealing with the potential of the presence of Lead based paint. Make sure they are following this recent new law.

XIM Team