Ceiling peeling when I try to paint

[koopah]

Hi all,

I'm trying to paint the ceiling in one of the rooms in our house and as I roll on the emulsion, a load of the old paint either flakes off or bubbles up. Is there something i'm doing wrong or should I have done something to the old paint first?

 

[Richard C]

The original paint hasn’t stuck to the plaster. Some idiot either hasn’t primed it with wash coats (matt emulsion thinned 25-30%) or has primed it with PVA; it’ll all have to be stripped off so you can start again.

 

[mac2or3]

Would agree with Richard C but if it is an older house ceiling could have distemper on it. Again still needs to come off and sealed with oil based primer sealer .