[wchang]

Hi,

There a section of the wall by the sink area that always has paint cracking. What may be the cause of this, it is only happening in the same place. I sanded it down a few times and repainted it and every 2 months this will happen again.

Should I sand it down once more, add a primer first and then paint?

 

[Windows on Wash]

Bathroom? With a shower? Any venting?

 

[wchang]

Yes, there's a shower in this bathroom and we have a vent however we do not shower in this bathroom. We mainly use it for the toilet and sink only.

 

[ClarenceBauer]

Looks like a Plaster wall with a moisture problem.

 

[Windows on Wash]

If you are using it only for hand washing, there is something else going on like @ClarenceBauer is saying.

 

[wchang]

Any tips on how I can fix this section? The current paint is flat, should I change it to a semigloss instead?

 

[ClarenceBauer]

How about doing something for us.
Remove one of the loose pieces of paint and see if the back side of paint that came off is beige in color this will help to determine if it is a moisture problem.
It will also help in what repair should be taken.

 

[wchang]

How about doing something for us.
Remove one of the loose pieces of paint and see if the back side of paint that came off is beige in color this will help to determine if it is a moisture problem.
It will also help in what repair should be taken.

The backside looks white. It's hard to see it clear since the lighting in that bathroom is using a tungsten warm white bulb and no windows. I've attached a close-up image of the area.

 

[ClarenceBauer]

The backside looks white. It's hard to see it clear since the lighting in that bathroom is using a tungsten warm white bulb and no windows. I've attached a close-up image of the area.

My guess is that paint over plaster is at least 40 / 50 years old.
The reason for cracking like that is Plaster will soak up moisture that is in the air than dry & the process is repeated many times over the years & the plaster moves @ one rate & paint @ another rate than the cracking starts with very small cracks than the cracks increase in size with each movement.
Question is this room conditioned @ all times.?
Does the door stay open or closed most of the time?
As for repair I would remove all loose paint do a light sanding of the plaster than apply a good primer as recommended for plaster.
Some painters will be along to advise you on primer & paint methods.

 

[mark sr]

My first thought was a contaminant under the paint but after seeing the last pic I agree is was most likely water deteriorating the plaster.


What I've always done [not that I've repaired a lot of plaster] is scrape off the loose, apply an oil base primer and then a setting compound like Durabond. Durabond needs to be applied neatly because it's a bear to sand! then prime and paint.