Calling on expertise of BP DIY community, PAINTING problem

[Jim K.]

Repainting a pantry in a very large duplex. I TSPed the walls up and washed them, and the top two layers of paint started coming right off as soon as I wet down the walls. The last two colors appear to be beige and then a pastel green. Under that is this hideous baby-puke green from, I would say, the 1960s. The duplex itself was built in the 1920s.

The last time I saw a paint problem like this it was kalsomine paint under the latex in Europe. I can't scratch the puke-green paint with a fingernail, so I'm pretty sure this is professionally-applied flat-sheen alkyd interior housepaint from, again, the 1960s. It's both clean and in good condition.

My plan is to wash down and peel off the walls and ceiling completely, then rinse it all and apply a coat of thinned Kilz Complete oil-based primer followed by a full-strength coat, and then two good coats of Glidden Premium.

Anything you can think of that I will need to watch out for?

[Bob H.]

Lead-based paint, maybe?