Question from Betty
We had our stippled ceiling painted in May with a ultra flat alkyd calcimine recoater and I am still smelling gaseous fumes. Would repainting with AFM Safecoat transitional primer solve this problem. We have tried baking soda, vinegar, lemons, vanilla, charcoal, air purifier, fans. The area is a loft and the air flow is not the best as there is not a direct window that can be opened. Can you help?
Thanks
Debra’s Answer
Readers, any experience or ideas?
I don’t have any personal experience with AFM Safecoat transitional primer. I would suggest that you call them and see if they think this or another one of their products would be appropriate.
If this paint was applied in May and it is now November, there is something wrong. Even the worst paint should have no odor by now.
One thing you can do is cover the ceiling with aluminum foil and tape all the seams and edges with aluminum foil tape. This will block any fumes. Then put up a new ceiling by covering the foil with sheetrock or any other material of your choice.
Heat and moving air should outgass it. If not, after all these months, I would just cover it with foil and be done with it.
appears a water based primer won’t seal in the odor; appears you need an alcohol based primer like bin primer made by zissner with shellac….though using this product may or may not present problems for you and yhou shoujld let a painting pro apply it….lots of alcohol and voc
I’m curious why this particular paint was used on the ceiling – but my experience with Alkyd paint is that the smell never goes away.
If your paint is in the loft – open a window if there is one – place open bags of charcoal briquest – turn up the heat. After six months I’m afraid what you have is what you’ve got – the AMF safecoat should do the trick – although I would have someone else do the job, or have the original painter do it gratis.