I thought I'd help out my girlfriend by converting a large cupboard inside the front door into a coat-cupboard - so I put up a rail. But damp coats keep getting white marks off the walls. I tried washing the walls - lots of white came off - but it didn't help. The walls are white, matt, and I think plasterboard.
I asked in Wicks and they pointed me to (I think) plasterboard sealant, but I didn't want to spend £35 for a big bucket of the stuff. So I bought a small tub of PVA instead. Was this right? If yes how do I use it? Or should I just be pragmatic and buy paint?
If the former repaint with one that is a) washable and b) not chalky. Use a vinyl matte paint.
If the latter no plaster sealer won't do and neither will PVA. Brush (don't wash 'cos that will only make it worse) it all off and then paint with an anti-akaline primer. Allow to cure and overdecorate.
Don't really know about 'efflorescence'. After googling I think its a salty deposit left when cement dries. If so, then I don't think I have that (did I mention that I didn't need a drill and rawlplugs to put up the rail - just selftapping screws and my electric screwdriver).
Difficult to photo, just a uniformly white matt wall. BTW there's original fitted carpet in the bottom - so I'm sure there's never been a dampness issue (also is smells dry).
DIY how to tutorial projects and guides - Did you know we have a DIY Projects section? Well, if no, then we certainly do! Within this area of our site have literally hundreds of how-to guides and tutorials that cover a huge range of home improvement tasks. Each page also comes with pictures and a video to make completing those jobs even easier!