Is sugar soap neccessary?

amsie · 9 Jan 2013

Hi all,

Im in the process of decorating my hall. We've had the ceiling skimed, walls have been filled and sanded, and woodword sanded down. Were about to start painting shortly but I wondered is it neccessar to sugar soap everything & wash down with clean water?

The reason I ask is that over the years when working on new build sites i've never seen a painter and decorator use sugar soap despite watching them fill and sand down loads of walls/repairs etc. They usually just seem to go straight into the painting.

My trade is tiler/bathroom fitter. I was a tiler on site so seen a fair few painters & decorators.

Thanks in advance,

Paul

p.s. by site im talking all the major housebuilders.

joe-90 · 9 Jan 2013

No. It causes problems rather than fixes them. Just paint.

amsie · 9 Jan 2013

Thanks Joe will crack on with the painting

stevewestern · 9 Jan 2013

Sugar soap cleans and de-greases.
On a new build there is no need for it at all.
However, in a house that has been lived in for years it is very useful, although products like Krud Kutter are even better, especially in kitchens !

In your house a quick wash down of the skirtings etc with sugar soap would be no bad thing - I would do it on my house although many painters wouldn't bother in part as the money paid doesn't allow for it....

It takes a minute, leaves the surface chemically clean and so will help the paint adhere.
Products like Zinsser BIN or Cover Stain are often used instead of undercoat to help adhesion but the better the prep, the longer the top coat will last.

njdeco · 10 Jan 2013

Just paint it. Give it a miss coat first( thinned emulsion). Never used sugar soap on walls or ceilings. Only cleaned greasy windows a few times in my decorators carer. Good Luck

opps · 11 Jan 2013

In 20/30 years I have only used sugar soap on a handful of occasions. Normally only when dealing with commercial areas. I tend to sand walls and thus don't need to wash them

ic1927 · 11 Jan 2013

We used to use sugar soap to get the nicotine off pub ceilings, it was very effective, one landlord came in after we'd sugar soaped his bar ceiling, it was so clean he thought we'd painted it as well. Also when we worked on bus depots we used it to clean the grease and grime off the steel girders in the roof before painting.

JessicaStripe · 25 Jan 2013

I agree, fantastic cleaning product but not really needed for a new build

cookie83 · 26 Jan 2013

I wouldn't bother with sugar soap I never use it, waste of time.

foxypan · 12 Aug 2013

HI there,
Can I get some quick but sensible or reliable advice on th application of sugar soa!

I have a dining room in a restaurant .. its not near kitchen but still has had food/people eating in their obviously, but i am an artist and don't normally do prep work ... so just the mural end. Do i need to use sugar soap?

Thanks alot

Chri5 · 13 Aug 2013

If the surface is greasy, or polluted then sugar soap is a good idea.

I'm on my sixth front of property renovation of the summer and when the client hasn't cleaned external wood work, sills and frames for a few years it is a good pre prep prior to the scratchy stuff.

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Is sugar soap neccessary?

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