Tell me about it. Tried “eco” primer on my 1920s hallway—looked great for six months, then started flaking like a bad sunburn. My grandma’s old lead paint is still hanging on in the basement... not that I’d recommend it, but it sure lasted.
I’ve noticed the same thing—some of these eco primers just don’t hold up, especially on older plaster. I’m trying to figure out if it’s the product or just the way these old walls react. Has anyone actually found an “eco” paint or primer that lasts more than a year on original surfaces?
TOO MANY LABELS, NOT ENOUGH STICK
I hear you, but I think it’s more about how those old plaster walls were built than the eco primers themselves. I’ve been at this a while, and honestly, even the “toughest” traditional primers can struggle on 100-year-old plaster if there’s any dust or chalkiness left behind. Eco stuff just seems to highlight the problem faster.
Had a job last spring—client wanted all eco everything, right down to the primer. We did the full prep: washed, scraped, even used a bonding agent in spots. Still had some peeling after a year, but only where the plaster was a bit crumbly underneath. On newer drywall, that same primer’s holding up fine.
I don’t think any paint or primer—eco or not—will last if the surface isn’t rock solid. Sometimes it’s less about the label and more about what’s hiding under that first coat. Maybe these labels make us expect miracles, but old walls are just stubborn.
Maybe these labels make us expect miracles, but old walls are just stubborn.
That’s the truth. I’ve found eco primers can be a bit less forgiving, but even the “miracle” stuff won’t stick to powdery plaster. Sometimes you just gotta accept that 1920s walls have their own agenda.
ECO LABELS ARE EVERYWHERE, BUT OLD WALLS DON’T CARE
You nailed it—those eco labels make it sound like you’re about to slap on a coat of paint and suddenly your house is saving the planet and looking brand new. In reality, I’ve spent more time chasing dust bunnies off crumbly plaster than actually painting. Tried one of those “ultra-bonding” eco primers last month, and it just sort of… looked at the wall and gave up.
Here’s my unofficial step-by-step for old walls:
1. Accept that the wall is in charge.
2. Scrape, sand, and curse a little.
3. Prime (maybe twice), then cross your fingers.
4. Paint, and hope for the best.
Honestly, sometimes the only thing that sticks is your patience. Eco or not, nothing’s getting through 100 years of stubborn. But hey, at least you can say you tried the green route, right?
