Need some advice from a painter
 

I've spent the last few days pealing and scraping paint off my walls... I suspect it's a water based paint as it seems quite flexible. What I've been able to scrape down to is a very hard layer of paint that has excellent adhesion to the gyprock - I suspect it's an oil based layer.

What I need to know now is what to do to get a water based paint to stick well to this base layer. Do I sand, do I wash with sugar soap, do I use a primer, or just slap a coat on and don't worry about it... Is there a brand that will stick like shit to carpet no matter what... All I want is the new coat of paint to last for a reasonable amount of time.

Re: Need some advice from a painter
 

I'm sorry to have to tell you... But this IS australia...... Of course there isnt

Re: Need some advice from a painter
 

No, we have tried this, and it just doesn't work. We are going to have to either go back to bare gyprock/wood, or give in and use an oil based paint. I'll have to move out as the fumes make me sick.

Re: Need some advice from a painter
 

You have the general idea.
lightly sand (by hand -- not machine) with a 100 grit piece of sand paper.Don't take it back to the paper.You are not removing the paint, simply roughing up the surface to change the oil surface into a surface that provides "teeth" or "bite" for the latex paint to adhere.
Wash the walls to remove all the dust, dirt and grease and loose paint.
Apply a coat of primer to the wall
Leave it to dry for 2 days.You will need to apply two (2) coats for good coverage.

I find I'm doing loads of painting lately.I hate it!