My neighbor told me I was ruining my adobe walls with the wrong paint

I moved into a 1950s abode in the North Valley last year and used regular latex paint on the interior plaster, thinking it was fine. After a humid monsoon season, I got huge peeling spots and the neighbor stopped by to say I needed lime wash or something breathable instead. Has anyone else dealt with moisture issues after painting old Albuquerque plaster wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

black.jordan14d agoMost Upvoted

I mean, a guy down in Tucson has been using standard latex on his 1940s territorial for like eight years now and his walls are fine, no peeling or anything. Maybe it's just me but I think the neighbor is probably repeating old wives' tales or something, especially if your plaster wasn't sealed with something weird from the 50s. The real issue might be that you're not using enough primer or your plaster just wasn't cured right in the first place, not the paint type.

willow67214d ago

I used to be on the other side of this argument, honestly, but you make a good point about the Tucson guy. That's a solid real-world example that sort of proves the theory isn't always right. Maybe it really does come down to the prep work and the plaster condition more than the paint chemistry.