DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Don't know about anyone else, but our experience using Crown emulsion (twice) has been appalling - NEVER AGAIN!!!** :(

Despite good preparation this paint covers the walls in tiny clusters of air bubbles.

To cut a long story short, in 2006 when this first happened, they advised a 50/50 water/emulsion mix to give a better 'key', OR 1 part water to 3 parts PVA. Lightly sanded out the bubbles, chose the water/emulsion and though it helped a bit when the topcoat went on, there were still loads of air bubbles appearing. Decided to live with it.

Decorating again, same room. Gently sanding out the old bubbles we discovered on 1 whole wall we could actually peel off every scrap of the paint - simply hadn't adhered properly (hence the air bubbles I suppose).

Unfortunately, we'd stupidly picked Crown paint again (never learn) so did the whole sugar soap wash, made sure all the walls were either peeled of the Crown paint or at least firmly 'sound'. Used what sounded like the better suggestion from 2006 of 1 part water to 3 parts PVA and guess what..............bubbles. All over. The first coat went on reasonably well, though didn't give as good coverage as a first coat should. Second coat gave good coverage but BUBBLED.

Crown's reason - "it bubbled because of the PVA". Bit rich given that using it was their advice in the first place.

Lesson learnt - I'm not touching any Crown product EVER AGAIN.

Oh well, lesson learnt - I wouldn't use Crown products if you paid me.

Its not the paint its the blasted PVA! Its been mentioned more times on here than you can shake a stick at!! Bane of the decorators and tilers life.

Just don't do it!!!

Cheers

Thanks rosebery - Crown have now said we should have used a coat of oil based primer before painting the walls to act as a vapour barrier and stopping moisture from the new emulsion penetrating the existing old emulsion and causing blistering.

I don't know, in 2006 they say use either 50/50 water/emulsion OR 1 part PVA to 3 parts water. In 2009 they say the above.......

All I can say is - I'll definitely be leaving Crown on the shelf and sticking to Dulux. Never had blister/bubbling before using Crown paint!!!***

The problem is still the PVA even two coats down! Its not the paint - honestly.

Cheers

still, when all is said and done, sagalout's original comment is quite correct IMHO - crown paint is awful! i never use it, unless customers supply it then i add many disclaimers and they look at me like i'm mental.

rosebery is right, paint will not stick to PVA, though better makes, (dulux, johnstones, leyland) may well have been a little more tolerant.