Painting over stains?

[PoleDriver]

I had a leak from my shower and there is a water stain on my lounge ceiling. Can any decorators on here advise as to the best way to cover the stain? I don't really want to end up repainting the whole ceiling! (It will encroach on my driving time!)

[Scott330ci]

PVA over stain area.

Repaint ceiling.

[GWC]

PVA won't stop a stain leaching through to the new paint, you need to use a stain block paint like this.

http://www.ronseal.co.uk/products/quick-drying-sta...

[PoleDriver]

Cheers, I'll try that!

[Simpo Two]

Begs the question - how does clean water leave a stain?



(I have one too after a too-hasty plumber replaced the HW cylinder)

Ah, I think I know - the artex acts like thin layer chromatography

[PoleDriver]

Simpo Two said:

Begs the question - how does clean water leave a stain?



(I have one too after a too-hasty plumber replaced the HW cylinder)

By the time it has passed through insulation, the general 'stuff' builders leave in floor/ceiling cavities and a lyer of plasterboard the water can hardly be called 'clean'!

[Dr_Rick]

Have used Zinsser (sp?) Bulls-Eye or other products. The Ronseal one didn't work too well for us. You used to be able to buy a tin of the paintable version from B&Q but that has now shifted into their 'Trade-Point' area and us public have to make do with a sprayable version.

Alternative sources round my way are Johnstones paint merchants who sell big tins retail.

Dr Rick

[mattdaniels]

Two ways - either white gloss first then normal ceiling paint, or specific high-pigment stain concealer paint then normal paint over.

[Scott330ci]

GWC said:

PVA won't stop a stain leaching through to the new paint, you need to use a stain block paint like this.

http://www.ronseal.co.uk/products/quick-drying-sta...

Yes it does.

Unless my PVA tin contained the product you suggested.

[GWC]

Scott330ci said:

GWC said:

PVA won't stop a stain leaching through to the new paint, you need to use a stain block paint like this.

http://www.ronseal.co.uk/products/quick-drying-sta...

Yes it does.

Unless my PVA tin contained the product you suggested.

PVA is water based and so not an effective stain block, the stain can simply leach through and into the fresh paint on top. Stain block is specifically designed to create an impervious barrier between the fresh paint and the stain. I know which one I would and do choose to use.

[russ_a]

Dr_Rick said:

Have used Zinsser (sp?) Bulls-Eye or other products. The Ronseal one didn't work too well for us. You used to be able to buy a tin of the paintable version from B&Q but that has now shifted into their 'Trade-Point' area and us public have to make do with a sprayable version.

Alternative sources round my way are Johnstones paint merchants who sell big tins retail.

Dr Rick

The Zinsser spray is terrible to use, just comes out as foam!

[anonymous-user]

I had an oil mark on a wall that showed through the emulsion. I had some knotting solution & the instructions said it could be used on it. So I used it & it worked!

[ColinM50]

I'm in exactly the same situation. Got a water stain on a ceiling and on Friday and Saturday gave it five coats of Dulux emulsion and it just keeps on bleeding through, though admittedly it's getting smaller.

Asked an expert in B&Q yesterday and he recommended PVA. Bought a small tin for I think £2.50 and it says to dilute 5:1 with water though chappie said 50:50 would be OK.

Not tried it yet, will have a go tomorrow and update you all if you like.

[freecar]

ColinM50 said:

I'm in exactly the same situation. Got a water stain on a ceiling and on Friday and Saturday gave it five coats of Dulux emulsion and it just keeps on bleeding through, though admittedly it's getting smaller.

Asked an expert in B&Q yesterday and he recommended PVA. Bought a small tin for I think £2.50 and it says to dilute 5:1 with water though chappie said 50:50 would be OK.

Not tried it yet, will have a go tomorrow and update you all if you like.

PVA is water soluble.

I wouldn't use it as a stainblock as emulsion is also water based and doesn't stop it coming back.

An oil based procudt is what you need, that way the emulsion has no way of remoistening the stain!

[PoleDriver]

Is PVA still water soluble when it dries? If so it could be a problem with the amount it gets used in building for bonding and priming!

[PH5121]

I had exactly the same issue with a stain after a shower leak. Painting the water stain with oil based primer, then over painting with matt emulsion sorted it out.

[Wings]

mattdaniels said:

Two ways - either white gloss first then normal ceiling paint, or specific high-pigment stain concealer paint then normal paint over.

Agree, i always use an oil based paint, ie gloss paint or white oil based undercoat, then ceiling paint to finish.

[KevF]

Leave little trays of paint on worksurfaces then when the flies walk over the paint then land on the ceiling they will ever so slowly start to repaint over the patch...

Hey presto two problems solved in one go......no...don't thank me........no seriously don't...

[PoleDriver]

KevF said:

Leave little trays of paint on worksurfaces then when the flies walk over the paint then land on the ceiling they will ever so slowly start to repaint over the patch...

Hey presto two problems solved in one go......no...don't thank me........no seriously don't...

New question:-
How can I get a large number of extremely small spots of paint off curtains... And carpet... and furniture... And worktops... And woodwork... etc!

[freecar]

PoleDriver said:

Is PVA still water soluble when it dries? If so it could be a problem with the amount it gets used in building for bonding and priming!

Of course it is, but paint and plaster aren't axactly soaking wet. If moisture is behind it, it wont act as a barrier.