[spazzz333]

We have inherited a home that was bulit in the 50's. The walls in every room minus the kitchen and bathroom are textured plaster. We have primed the bedroom twice, 2 coats cut in and on the walls. The corners all around the room seem hollow, I don't know how else to explain it. I have noticed this in all the other rooms as well but they just seemed dirty and unable to get clean. Now that we have primed this room it seems like its the walls not a poor paint job.

What could cause this? Is it light reflection off the smoother corners or do the corners just need more coats of primer?

 

[Brushjockey]

Doesn't sound like a paint problem, it is probably the corners were just not filled flush when the original mud work was done. 50's- i assume plaster walls, not sheetrock?
BtW- multiple coats of primer does not do priming better. Primers solve problems, maybe in your case there was some dirt issues that it could help with, but paint covers and changes colors better.

I think you have what you have- to fix it might mean reskimming/ filling those corners, then retexturing- a very big job.

If you can get a pic of what you mean and put it up that might help.

 

[ToolSeeker]

I agree with Brush it could be drywall though some were experimenting with it then so their finishing techniques left a lot to be desired. But either way it sounds like the corners need to be re done.

 

[Brushjockey]

Hey Tool- I once opened a wall in a early 1920's house and actually saw a very early form of sheet rock. It does pop up early- but it wasn't until the post war baby boom happened and they needed lots of housing quick that it really took off.

 

[spazzz333]

Thank you for the advice. Redoing the corners does not sound like a fun job at all.

 

[Brushjockey]

Do you see it looking straight on, or is it when you are looking at it at an angle- worse maybe if there is light or a window at the other end?

 

[spazzz333]

You can tell pretty much from wherever you stand in the room, this includes the ceiling to wall corners as well. They just look almost see through, like the paint didn't cover enough. They are plaster walls not drywall.

 

[Brushjockey]

Have you painted, or just primed? Was there a big color shift ?
Because we cant see, we're just guessing. Might simply be the cut is not covering. and again- paint will do that better than primer. primer is not made to be great at coverage.

 

[Brushjockey]

Another thing that happens is there is a texture difference between the cut and the roll because of the different type of application. This is sometimes called hatbanding, and one way to lessen it is to keep the cut small and roll as tight as you can without crashing. getting on a ladder and rolling horizontal at the ceiling line also, then finish up and down.

 

[spazzz333]

We have tried to do that to even it out. Could it be from years of painting and not covering the corners properly.

 

[Brushjockey]

That's about all I have without seeing.

 

[jagans]

That early sheet rock, which came in 2 x 4 pieces was called plasterboard. Came about after Lath, and before larger sheets with cupped edges. As I recall the edges were rolled.

Are you using high quality tools? Brushes? Texture is usually used to cover up crappy work in my experience. I don't like it at all, grabs dirt and anchors spider webs, but thats just me, I hate it.