New House - Painting Issues

[ramsden]

Hi all - first time poster

I have just moved in to a 1930s house and a I am starting to decorate. In the main bedroom, one wall was covered with paper which we have stripped and washed down. What was left on the wall was a white covering (emulsion I think!) on top of the plaster (down to the plaster in places). From the look of it this white layer is not adhered very well to the plaster and comes off quite easily:

Also there is some cracking in the paint:

I was hoping someone can tell me the best way to proceed (I am hoping to paint the walls). I was thinking my options were to either strip the paint off down to the plaster, or to cover the walls in an oil/solvent base primer.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Edit: I forgot to mention that the paint bubbles up in parts when wet. These bubbles tend to go down OK when the surface has dried.

 

[TheDec]

You say the house was built in the 30s, what you could have here is a lath and plaster mortar covered with a form of distemper, in your first pic if you rub your hands over them do they leave a chalky residue on them.

Dec

 

[ramsden]

Hi, there is no chalky residue when I rub my hand on the dry wall. With a damp cloth the paint (?) does start to come off

 

[TheDec]

Perhaps a easier way, is the substrate under the failing paintwork pink or perhaps white in appearance, in other terms is it plaster skim.

Dec

 

[ramsden]

Hi, thanks for your replys (as you can tell I'm new to this).

There are the grey area as seen in the photos but also some pink areas under the paint:

 

[TheDec]

Ok you say that the applied paint comes off easily with a damp cloth, so using warm water and a broad edged scraper remove the paint. I dont think that you will find this to difficult, allow the wall time to dry out and give it one coat of Dulux Trade oil based Primer sealer, dont thin the product, this should cure your problems.

Dec