minchO - if you don't prepare it properly the paint will only peel off and then take more trouble to put it right. 
Sugar soap will get it clean but sanding will do a better job, as it will clean as well get rid of the flaking paint and smooth out some of the uneven edges.

This link gives many good solutions to painting bricks and masonry.

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thanx guys yeah im just going to paint over existing walls so im not sure wether to wash walls down with sugar soap? to get rid of some of the rubber marks left by the ball would be great to organise through squash australia might ask dad if he has a number for someone

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h mike

the sort of pain you have there is almost certainly some form of enamel paint. you will need to

•  get a scraper and thoroughly remove all loose paint
• depending on what is underneath the paint that has been removed
• if more paint,
  
• use a heavy sand paper to smooth out the areas where one coat finishes and another coat starts
• if down to masonry or plaster
  
• make sure the substrate is firm, not powdery
• it may have to be patched with some form of plaster - do NOT use ordinary plaster - it needs to be a very hard plaster - there are some special products on the market or at the very least use something like cornice cement which dries very hard
• you will need to bond the new plaster with the old surface - in australia, a product like bondcrete can be used
• in any case, when using a plastic paint over an enamel finish, you need to establish a good mechanical bond, so you need to make the old enamel surface very clean, free of dust, grime etc and then make sure it is sanded so that the small scapes in the surface of. the paint will help the grip of the new paint above
• depending on the product, you may need a special primer coat to prevent peeling in the future - seek the manufacturer's advice
• preparation is everything!

unfortunately mike, when doing a job like this, years of neglect usually result in quite a bit of work, especially when the walls get pounded from a little black ball travelling with the force of a small rifle.

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I practice on a private court which is also badly in need of a repaint. The floor near the side walls is covered in flecks of paint. Most hard shots that hit the sidewall (even returning from the front) will usually dislodge some cracked paint.

I think it might be difficult, or a lot of work to remove all the old cracked paint in this case?

It's not my court, but I'm pretty much the only person that uses it.

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hi Minch0

check out this duralex (Squash Court White) link


i have used the stuff and it isn't bad although not as good as the old enamel product whose name just escapes me at the moment and is not made anymore. (it is much easier to use than that particular product)

either me or  someone else (thru squash australia) organised a special discount for affiliated centres, although i do not know if that still exists. it might be worth a call to them. (it's crook when you can't even remember something like that!)

it can be tinted if you are looking to get with the times, although you need to be careful with the colors - i have some good colours but would need to look into my records to rediscover them!

let me know if you need more info, especially if

• you are painting walls with the old enamel paint on them (especially important)
  
• if you have to do extensive patching

best of luck

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