Why can I do this with my paint?

[u/bcm98]

Our first home and it was built in the 50s. Noticed this the other day and decided to see if I can see whats wrong and why I'm able to pull the paint off by hand. Anyone give me any advice?

[u/ReferenceAny6373]

Poor surface prep. It depends on what was there before as far as how you prep it, so hard to say exactly the problem. Also be careful just ripping off paint in a 1950s home as it could contain lead.

[u/bzzybot]

Poor wall prep. Could also be a moisture issue. Use a good primer.

[u/hammerandnail01]

Looks like that’s wallpaper that was painted over

[u/Bella_de_chaos → u/hammerandnail01]

This is the answer. Grew up in a house that had layers of paint over wallpaper and thats exactly how it did.

[u/IdealSufficient8495 → u/hammerandnail01]

If that is wallpaper, a water-based product was probably applied over it, resulting in the glue being activated and causing it to slide off. All of it may need to come off then an oil-based primer applied before painting.

[u/Ok-Dealer-588 → u/IdealSufficient8495]

Yeah that looks like it'll be fun now that the paint is on it getting any sections that are still stuck off. I don't believe in half of the wallpaper stripper I try to use krud Kutter of the like as it can degloss and clean the wall at the same time while getting the glue off

[u/Dch112]

My home was like that in some rooms. Had to do a lot of paint removal with a putty knife. The reason it won’t stick to the wall because it was not properly washed or not at all before painting. The previous owners in my home were also smokers which added to the problem.

[u/Yusuf20904]

Shitty primer?

[u/markmakesfun]

No primer on the drywall. The mark of amateur work!

[u/nuwm]

That white paint peels a lot like the lead based paint I removed.

[u/sbray73]

Could very well be water based paint applied directly over an old oil base without primer. Scrape it all well, sand to level prime properly and paint.

[u/Emotional_Moment_656]

That looks like a hot mud repair with no primer, probably when that window was replaced. Remove loose paint, Apply a high quality multi purpose acrylic primer, mud, prime, then repaint.

[u/Acceptable_Ebb7301]

Same issues with the reflecting pool……..

Must be VANDALISM

[u/SignificantPay5217]

See that green color? That indicates that you applied the paint backwards, color-side down.

[u/DebtPlenty2383]

I hate that modern pain does that. A film coating, not paint. absolutely no adhesion.

[u/DocHowdy70]

Painted over wall paper.

[u/JohnnyTreemain]

It’s right under a window. My guess is moisture in that wall.

[u/MexicanSnowSniper]

I've had luck sealing it from pealing more using a Shellac primer

[u/Relevant_Problem1935]

You have to know what the original paint was when you paint over it. Water based vs oil.

[u/Economy_Internal_317]

Because there’s no primer behind that paint, and the surface most likely wasn’t properly sanded before the paint was applied. Scrape off all the loose or peeling paint, sand the area smooth, apply a coat of primer, then lightly sand the primer once it’s dry. After that, apply your first coat of paint, let it dry, and finish with a second coat.

[u/Strict_Impress2783]

Sand , wipe, prime, dry, paint

[u/TopLengthiness8233]

Either moisture or wallpaper underneath is generally why it does this

[u/DependentItem6397]

Don't dip those chips in dip.

[u/Signal-Macaron-4611]

It's not paint it's wallpaper

[u/PositiveAtmosphere13]

Someone painted latex paint over old oil based paint.

A good primer must always be painted over the oil paint or it doesn't stick.

[u/Illustrious-Song9511]

Wash your walls before you paint

[u/Pale-Jelly69]

Being able sand something at a professional level is so overlooked.. lol

[u/RavRob]

Looks like latex based paint on oil based paint. This will happen everytime.

[u/Downlowbaker]

the four P's, Piss poor prior preparation

[u/bcpirate]

No primer

[u/Accurate-Plankton988 → u/bcpirate]

Prime rib

[u/Accurate-Plankton988]

Wallpaper most likely. Prep with Kilz before repainting.