Painting Pre-Finished MDF Skirting & Architrave

Toots

I hope I'm posting this in the right place - I'm in a bit of a bind here.

I've just put up new skirting and architrave in my hall and I went to paint it today, but the paint was separating on it and not drying. When I bought it, the store told me it was pre-primed and ready to paint straight away. I rang them there now and the guy I spoke to said "Ah no, that's not pre primed, it's pre finished, you can't paint that! You just wipe it down with a cloth."

I'm really really hoping that someone here can tell me if there's actually any way to paint it - can I just get some sort of primer, and if so which one do I need? Could I sand it down? It needs to be painted because there are parts that we had to screw on to the walls (countersink screws because the walls are so badly crooked) so it looks dreadful at the moment.

Is there anything I can do? It's this stuff that we have (I didn't buy it from there).

Thanks!

slimjimmc

So they're vinyl wrapped just like kitchen doors, that explains why the paint wouldn't bond.

You could try an all-surface primer.
http://www.lenehans.ie/zinsser-123-primer-2-5lt.html#product_tabs_additional_tabbed
http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/ronseal-one-coat-all-surface-primer---750ml-244155

michael999999

You could BIN prime them first!

Toots

Thanks guys! I'll give those a shot. It's typical that I'd only find this out after the boards are up on the wall!