bleaching white emulsion walls prior to repaint

[spynage]

I've got a job repainting walls and ceilings in white emulsion. However the walls are filthy and I think I could save some time spraying them with a weak bleach solution to save on the amount of coats they'll need.
Will this compromise the new coat of emulsion and what residue does bleach leave behind after the chlorine has evaporated? I reckon it will be fine but I have to convince the decorator!

Thanks

 

[TheDec]

The Decorator should not need convincing, if the walls are heavily soiled they should not be painted, wash down with a solutioun of sugar soap and then again using just warm water. When they have had time to dry they can then be painted.

Dec

 

[spynage]

Thanks but it is a vast old office space with high ceilings and crossmembers. They really are the dirty part and for the additional labour cost in wiping don't I think my quote would be competitive. They did just ask for everything to be "whitewashed".

I'd like to know how the residue from domestic bleach could affect emulsion and wether there are any other products that could "bleach" dirt after spraying on although I appreciate your advice is the standard practice. For instance I don't think hydrogen peroxide would leave a chemical residue but it is more corrosive in some ways and might degrade the original coat.

Thanks.

 

[TheDec]

If the walls are as you say heavily soiled then in all probability your emulsion wont be able to form that all important bond, any residue left behind from any cleaning agent can and often does interfere with a paint system.

If you want the paint to last then you have to approach this work in a proper manner, sugar soap is the correct product for this procedure yet even the residue from this needs to be removed prior to painting.

If your intent on using household bleach use no more than a cupful per gallon of water, yet the residue from this will still need to be removed by washing down with clean warm water.

Dec

 

[jondecs]

Thanks but it is a vast old office space with high ceilings and crossmembers. They really are the dirty part and for the additional labour cost in wiping don't I think my quote would be competitive. They did just ask for everything to be "whitewashed".

Thanks.

If you got to ask basic questions like that, could you please explain why you Quoted for work you have no idea about????

 

[dcdec]

Do it properly or don't do it at all.

I for one am not going to tell a bloke with a brush and a ladder how to do a job a pro would breeze.

Trying to bleach paint FFS

 

[spynage]

Thanks for your knowledgable insight on how different chemical reagents might affect an emulsion paint. This is why I came here.

Thanks

FFS

 

[jondecs]

your welcome, but I thought you meant Whitewash?