Painting Over Nicotine Stained Walls and Ceilings
Painting Over Nicotine Stained Walls and Ceilings
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Discussion

paoloh

Original Poster:

8,617 posts

228 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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What method do you guys find best for covering said stains?

shirt

25,078 posts

225 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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stainblock or oilbased undercoat.

condor

8,837 posts

272 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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It depends on how bad the nicotine stains are...and if the paint is white or coloured.
For white ceilings, I had previously used sugar soap for an initial clean then used a 'nicotine cover up' paint. A year later the 'wash strokes' could be seen and it looked a worse sight than if I'd not touched it.
Last year I paid some decorators to put 'smooth lining' up on the ceilings and they then painted over that with white paint. That worked smile
For coloured walls I just used sugar soap to clean and then repainted - seems to work fine.

iiyama

2,201 posts

225 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
quotequote all
Zinsser products.

No cleaning necessary, just coat everything with it and then finish in colour and paint of your choice.

Job done.

paoloh

Original Poster:

8,617 posts

228 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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The tenant is a heavy smoker and has been in property for 4 years.

Wings

5,935 posts

239 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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Use any oil based paint, then emulsion for top coat.

paoloh

Original Poster:

8,617 posts

228 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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Will Gloss need undercoating or just go straight over old?

Wings

5,935 posts

239 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
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paoloh said:
Will Gloss need undercoating or just go straight over old?
Always undercoat, for glossing on top of gloss will lead to paint peeling, much better finish and coverage by undercoating first.

paoloh

Original Poster:

8,617 posts

228 months

Sunday 29th May 2011
quotequote all
Wings said:
paoloh said:
Will Gloss need undercoating or just go straight over old?
Always undercoat, for glossing on top of gloss will lead to paint peeling, much better finish and coverage by undercoating first.
Nice one. Thanks!

bga

8,134 posts

275 months

Monday 30th May 2011
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iiyama said:
Zinsser products.

No cleaning necessary, just coat everything with it and then finish in colour and paint of your choice.

Job done.
The Zinsser stuff is very good.

cal72

7,839 posts

194 months

Monday 30th May 2011
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As used by decorators.
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&amp...
Works a treat, also if walls/paintwork are greasy the paint will split leaving it looking patchy.

Edited by cal72 on Monday 30th May 11:21

hairybiddy

68 posts

196 months

Sunday 5th June 2011
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I did this a few years ago, in my house that was heavily smoked in by a previous owner. EVERY surface was covered!

Zinsser definatly recommended for very heavy marked areas, and all woodwork as an undercoat. It is however quite expensive when you have an entire house to do.

For less stained areas, sugar soap wash with a big old sponge gets rid of most of it, the buckets I washed the walls with looked like milky tea when I poured them out! Then a coat of this THIS then 2 coats of paint over and all is well 4 years later, no stains no marks no smell. The polycell stuff looked a lot like PVA to me, I'm not sure exactly how it differs to be honest so PVA may be ok too.

also you will probably need the carpets cleaning and deodorising.