Thanks for your reply guys. Guess I should have provided a bit more info:
90% of the house has been skimmed over the exiting old plaster/wall. There's small areas which have been plastered over platerboard and other small areas plastered over bonding coat.
There is heating in the house, but I dont I will have much ventilation this week as I cant find my thermals
I have painted the ceilings in a couple of bedrooms. Here I decided to go for Polycell crack free ceiling paint. Didnt have any cracks up there, but hopefully that paint will ensure I dont have any in the future. However noticed one or two hairline cracks here and there in other parts of the ceiling both upstairs and downstairs. So I will continue to use it throughout the house.
In the bedrooms I used 50:50 emulsion/water primer. Now, (dont laff people) wasnt sure whether to use the Polycell in the primer mix or some cheap, no-frills emulsion. The latter option would have saved me a few pennies no doubt. Decided to use the Polycell in the mix in the end, on the basis that it would adhere better and do a better job (no cracks in future) to the ordinary emulsion water-downed stuff. Now is this totally flawed logic on my part? Can I get away with using the cheap stuff in the primer?
Also when applying the above primer, found it going off very quickly on the ceilings. Poss a good thing as I then apply the next coat?
I just happen to have a large PVA bottle lying aroud that was purchased only recently. Was thinking of using this, also I find mixing this stuff up and working with it less hassle than watering down emulsion. I find it easier to produce a smooth, lump free PVA mix than emulsion.
Just had a guy wallpaper the bedroom wall. He's a professional decorator and it was he who suggested the PVA option. So now, im confused ! Is the emulsion based primer better than the PVA mix or is it just people's preferences? Are both methods equally valid?
By the way, I applied a further two coats to the bedroom ceilings after the primer, and they look the dog's dangly bits.
Pressure is on. The site manager/project manager/supervisor is hassling me to get the job finished as soon as. And If I dont she's refusing to cook any more meals for me!
Cheers,
Taz