Can you skim over emulsion paint, then tile on it happily? Or removal of emulsion? - Tile Advice

[Riker007]

This is linked to my earlier question about the notion of emulsion paint as a primer. I sanded 70% of the area of where the first line of tiles were going, then stuck on the tiles. This was a test, naturally. I had four tiles up, and let each one set for different periods of time ranging from 15 minutes to an hour and a half. Each one the layer of emulsion peeled right off onto the back off the tile, surprise surprise..
So, my question is, since I got about 12 square metres worth of emulsion paint to remove from the walls, and sanding barely scratches it off, it took an hour to do 2/3 of just one metre, and that wasn't hardcore removal either. I've heard that you can skim with adhesive, leave it 10/15 minutes, then scrape it off, the emulsion mostly should come off with it? Seemed to work very nicely when removing the tiles I was testing. Or, as a second choice, could I just get the plasterer back in to give the walls a new skim of plaster (onto already skimmed plasterboard) onto the emulsion paint. My concern then being of course that the plaster won't stick to the emulsion either..? Any ideas?

 

[Stewart]

The adhesive on the paint is an old trick and works quite well. Under mo circumstances do skim the Walls with plaster over the paint then tile. That's just gonna lead to a whole host of new problems. You just have to persaveer and remove the paint. Try a steam stripper too, as this can be quite effective at removing paint.

 

[easyt]

Re: Can you skim over emulsion paint, then tile on it happily? Or removal of emulsion

Daft suggestion maybe but ...... Power plane on a setting of 0.1 or 0.2 of a mil ?

 

[Rich]

Re: Can you skim over emulsion paint, then tile on it happily? Or removal of emulsion

Bloody hell, your brave! I wouldnt like to try getting paint off with a sander, Il leave that one down to your judgment.

As Stewart says, dont tile or plaster straight over the paint. If you tile straight over the top of the paint you will be relying on the bond between the paint and the wall to keep your tiles where they should be and as you saw the adhesive softens the paint and it will come away. The same can be said for the plaster.

It is a pain in the... neck... but the paint must be removed before you go any farther, try skimming the wall with adhesive, might just soften it enough. Failing that give it some elbow grease.