Covering over oil based gloss

[NeilPalfreyman]

I'm decorating a house that has a very thick (but sound) layer of what I think is oil based gloss on the plaster around the window (why do people do these things?)

I want to paint the room in matt emulsion but am worried about lack of adhesion or bubbling. I have rubbed it down to a matt finish (it was gloss) but should I use a primer and if so what?

 

[emilybronte]

I'm decorating a house that has a very thick (but sound) layer of what I think is oil based gloss on the plaster around the window (why do people do these things?)

I want to paint the room in matt emulsion but am worried about lack of adhesion or bubbling. I have rubbed it down to a matt finish (it was gloss) but should I use a primer and if so what?

I would use a sealant like Zinssser Gardz or even Bullseye over the sanded-down gloss. It goes without saying that you'll use a trade quality paint, but that in itself may not be enough to ensure adhesion.

 

[jabuzzard]

I want to paint the room in matt emulsion but am worried about lack of adhesion or bubbling. I have rubbed it down to a matt finish (it was gloss) but should I use a primer and if so what?

Days gone by this was common practice. You wall papered the room in a none vinyl paper and then did the window reveals in gloss paint which survives damp and condensation better. I bet it was a lead based paint as well.

It is probably easier just to strip the paint off all together. I had a whole kitchen to do last year and found the "Peelaway" system worked well.