Victorians definitely have their charm, but man, are you sure you're not secretly talking about my last project? 😂 FrogTape never really impressed me either—honestly, is it just marketing hype or am I missing something major here? BIN primer though...yeah, smells like death warmed over but works miracles. Did you use a respirator or just wing it with open windows? I learned the hard way that ventilation alone isn't always enough (cue flashbacks to me stumbling around dizzy in the backyard).
Quick question: did your Victorian have those stubborn old varnish stains bleeding through, or was it more water damage and nicotine stuff? I'm debating whether shellac primer is overkill for minor stains or if it's always worth the extra headache.
"BIN primer though...yeah, smells like death warmed over but works miracles."
Couldn't agree more about BIN primer—it's nasty stuff but gets the job done. I always use a respirator now after one particularly rough afternoon spent nursing a splitting headache. Regarding your question, my Victorian had mostly nicotine and water stains, but honestly, even minor varnish bleed-through can be stubborn enough to justify shellac primer. Have you tried spot-priming just the worst areas first, or do you prefer going all-in from the start?
I've had decent luck spot-priming first, honestly. Did a 1920s bungalow last year with some pretty nasty water stains on the ceiling—thought I'd save time by spot-priming just those areas first. Worked great initially, but once the fresh paint dried, I could still faintly see some edges where I'd primed. Ended up doing a second coat all over anyway...so sometimes going all-in from the start saves headaches later. Guess it depends how picky you are about the final finish.
Haha, been there! I swear, spot-priming is like playing whack-a-mole—you think you've nailed it, then another edge pops up. Did something similar with our old Victorian's dining room ceiling. Thought I'd outsmarted the stains, but nope, ended up repainting the whole thing anyway. Curious though, anyone have better luck with specific primers or techniques that blend better? Or is this just the DIY gods messing with us again...
Haha, spot-priming is definitely a sneaky beast. Tried it myself on some water stains in our hallway—figured I'd save time and money by just hitting the trouble spots. Nope, ended up with these weird patchy areas that stood out even more. Eventually gave in and primed the whole ceiling. I've heard tinted primers can help blend things better, but haven't tried it yet...maybe worth a shot next time? Or maybe we're all just doomed to repaint entire ceilings forever, lol.