What to do when the old paint is starting to bubble and peel off while priming a wall?

Question

Our kitchen is currently pumpkin orange (gross i know). We are priming the wall to paint it beige, and in some spots the orange paint is starting to bubble up and peel off. What is causing this and can you just prime and paint over it without it being recognizable? Are we going to have to peel all of the orange paint off and then prime again?

Answer 1

I would scrape off the bubbles, sand it even, wash it, let it dry and then prime and paint.  

Answer 2

sounds like your trying to paint wall paper it will do that if it has'nt been sized. if not its greese on the walls.

Answer 3

It sounds like you might be using a latex water based primer of an oil paint.

They make new oil primers that you can paint latex, acrylic paint over.  The oil based primer will "sit" on top of the oil based orange paint.

If you do not want to switch primers, try washing your walls with some TSP.  You can buy it at any home improvement store.  It will degloss the walls and help the latex based primer adhere to your walls.

Answer 4

Did you wash the walls?  Kitchen walls always have a grease build up.  This could cause the bubbling, too.