Patchy Coving

[mrsparks]

I've just painted the coving in my hallway and it's looking a bit rubbish. It's partly new coving - the plasterboard type. I primed it with Optiva Primer, or Zinsser 123 - can't remember exactly - and I've now given it a couple of coats of Tikkurila Anti Reflex to match the ceiling. When I look along the hallway towards the front door, which is source of natural light, the coving looks rubbish - the light is reflecting off some areas, making them look shiny, and it's generally very patchy. FYI, I painted the coving with a brush.
The ceiling, which I rollered, looks great - flat as a pancake.

I suspect it's because the paint is drying quickly, and because I can only do about a metre at a time without getting down and moving my steps, by the time I've got back up and overlapped the previous section, the overlapped part is drying and laying off into it makes it look different to the rest - I guess it's creating a different texture. It's hard to tell whether the overlapped areas are dull and the rest shiny, or vice versa. Either way, with AR2 being so flat I'm surprised I get any reflection at all.

Any suggestions? Do I water down the next coat to stop it drying so quickly? Should I get a bigger brush - currently using a 2 inch - maybe 3 inch?

[Tom d'Angler]

That tends to happen while the paint is drying if there are areas that have been primed because the paint takes longer to dry over those bits. Once the Tikkurila Anti-Reflex has dried there shouldn't be any shiny bits as it's specifically designed to be non-reflective (i.e. not shiny).

[mrsparks]

That tends to happen while the paint is drying if there are areas that have been primed because the paint takes longer to dry over those bits. Once the Tikkurila Anti-Reflex has dried there shouldn't be any shiny bits as it's specifically designed to be non-reflective (i.e. not shiny).

That's exactly what I was thinking, but sadly even after drying I see some patchy reflections. I'm at a loss now so I've given it a bit of a sanding. My thinking is that if it's a case of inconsistent priming I could get it to a state where I could start again - without damaging the coving obviously. I have a suspicion - and it's only a suspicion - that it's a result of using 123 on the new part of the coving. I've always found that 123 dries with a shiny finish. Maybe I applied the 123 poorly.

So, I'll do a bit more sanding perhaps and give it a coat of Optiva Primer, which dries a bit more rough that 123. Then I'll try the AR2 again and see how it turns out.

I've even considered applying the AR2 using a short pile roller so that it has a tiny bit of texture - don't know if that's a good idea or not. Seems a bit odd to use on coving though but quite honestly, I don't think you'd notice. When the light source is from the front door, it would just blend in with the ceiling (but you WILL see an shiny bits). Similarly, when the spot lights are on. Is it a mad idea?

[Tom d'Angler]

I'm also at a loss because I have been using Anti-Reflex for a couple of years now and I have never seen a shiny finish other than when it's painted over a stain block, and only then while the paint is still drying. I assume you're stirring the paint thoroughly and you're putting on two coats and allowing proper drying time in between coats?

[mrsparks]

I'm also at a loss because I have been using Anti-Reflex for a couple of years now and I have never seen a shiny finish other than when it's painted over a stain block, and only then while the paint is still drying. I assume you're stirring the paint thoroughly and you're putting on two coats and allowing proper drying time in between coats?

Yes, doing all that. Baffled. This is the first time I've put AR2 on coving, and first time with a brush. I assume you've done that?

[Tom d'Angler]

I assume you've done that?

Yes, every time. I once tried using a little roller and it looked dreadful.

[mrsparks]

I assume you've done that?

Yes, every time. I once tried using a little roller and it looked dreadful.

Still fighting this coving. I've given it a coat of Optiva Primer, which made it look very flat indeed - no reflections. Now I've tried some AR2, and you can see the patchiness has returned. Absolutely baffled.

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