I hear you on the wish for a “this actually works” stamp—would make life so much easier. I’ve tried a few eco brands on my old trim and it’s been hit or miss, but when it works, it’s a relief. It does feel like things are slowly improving, though. Hang in there... sometimes it just takes a bit of trial and error to find what sticks.
I get what you mean about the “hit or miss” thing. I’ve had eco paint peel right off my 1920s baseboards, even after following the prep steps to a T. Here’s what’s worked for me: 1) sand down to bare wood, 2) use a shellac-based primer (not always eco, but sometimes necessary), 3) then try the eco topcoat. It’s not perfect, but it’s held up better than most. Has anyone found an eco primer that actually bonds well to old wood? That’s where I keep running into trouble...
I’ve had eco paint peel right off my 1920s baseboards, even after following the prep steps to a T.
I hear you on the “hit or miss” part. Old wood is just stubborn sometimes. I’ve tried a few eco primers—Benjamin Moore’s Natura and ECOS both claimed to bond well, but neither stuck to my 1915 trim like shellac does. Honestly, I keep coming back to your exact process. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles. If you find an eco primer that actually works, I’d love to know, but for now, I’m not holding my breath.