Decorating question

[Green Aura]

OK, the new shop is now looking much better, clean and papered (pics soon).

We need to paint it now and we've got several huge tubs of a well known DIY store brand matt emulsion. We bought it to paint our house but it's crap! We need to use it though because we're broke and until we can open up and make some dosh we can't afford any more large expenses (and the price of decent paint is included in that!).

Can I add anything to the paint to make it wipeable? This stuff is so bad you can't wipe it down without removing some of the paint. I've got some scumble glaze - could I put that in it? Or PVA?

Any ideas - we can't re-paint every time someone leaves grubby marks on the walls.

[Cassiepod]

Hi Green Aura,

that sound like unacceptable performance of the paint. I know you're a long way from town but arre you able to take it back and complain? It could be a bad batch normally the cheaper paints have poor covereage but I've never know it come off with a simple wipe over.
Other than that I don't know how to modify what you have to make it work better.

Cassie

[MKG]

! would have thought PVA would certainly improve its stickability - although it would also thin it down, so coverage might suffer a bit.

Mike

[Green Aura]

Well we're going to have to do a few coats so I might put PVA in the top coat.

[crowsashes]

ive found most matt paints do that to some extent... cheap magnolia and even £30-£40 tubs of good matt paint.

pva will do the trick but you could also do a top coat of just pva like you do when sealing plaster before painting. doing a test patch wont harm and could work out easier than blending the pva with the paint which might still cause some transfer when washing. but not as much.

[niknik]

have had similar problems with some of the paint here! ( not the cheapest either.that works fine )

sometimes have had to do a diluted pva coat before the paint, but a small amount of pva mixe in paint, then a diluted pva top coat...
as crowsashes suggested. a test patch first!

[Silver Ether]

If it doesn't do its job take the bleddy stuff back if you can .. its not fair that you have parted with your cash but have to work far harder than you should to get even partially acceptable finish ... they shouldn't sell such muck ....

[Thomzo]

If the paint is coming off then it might be the surface that you are painting on. If it's a bit greasy or flaky then the paint won't stick properly and will rub off. Try cleaning the wall with detergent or spirits and then applying the paint.

If that doesn't work and it's a store brand then they should be able to advise you. There should be a telephone number on the packaging or look up their website and give them a call.

Zoe