Replies

1. 
   Restorer | Mar 08, 2004 06:55am | #1

   Just my experience, but I haven't seen that happen on good plaster. I have seen it in an old building (with new plaster, by the way) that was a solid brick building with nothing between the plaster and the brick - the brick would wick moisture up the wall and it would cause the paint to fail - followed by the plaster flaking off. What is under the plaster?

   Sounds like a moisture problem to me....

   Greg

   The older I get...The better I was.
1. 
   hollybranst | Mar 09, 2004 07:31am | #4

   thanks...that seems to be the only reasonable cause, as i'm sure they knew how to make a plaster mix back then. there was vinyl wallpaper over many layers of paint, so perhaps moisture got back there and could not escape therefore causing the plaster to effloresce on a subtle scale.

1. 
   reinvent | Mar 09, 2004 08:48am | #5

   You may have calcumine(sp?) a thin layer (thickness of a dime)of a special plaster put on walls or more comonly ceilings. It was made to deliberetly shed paint. That way you could start from scratch with a smooth wall.

1. 
   hollybranst | Mar 09, 2004 08:42pm | #7

   yeesh! that's scarey, when was that product in use, i haven't heard or read of it

1. 
   reinvent | Mar 10, 2004 12:56am | #8

   Check out this link. Tons of other links if you go to google.

2. 
   rasconc | Mar 08, 2004 07:17am | #2

   This folder is probably not the best place for your question.  Probably Construction Techniques or General Discussion.  Sure you will get some great advice.  If reposting delete orig.  Good luck!

3. 
   joeh | Mar 08, 2004 07:31am | #3

   So what's different in your house recently?

   Original 90 year old paint just suddenly started falling off? After 90 years?

   Joe H

4. 
   DanH | Mar 09, 2004 08:01pm | #6

   Milk paint was used some time in the past.