Why won’t paint stick on walls sealed and repainted after a fire

Was the wall primed before painting?

1. What were the walls sealed with?
2. What type of paint was used?
3. What material is on the basement walls?
4. Was it thoroughly dried out? Water (from the fire hoses) seeks the lowest level.
5. Has it been painted before?

I would send this question on to the paint manufacturer, or a professional painter. I am sure it has something to do with the soot (which is very greasy) from the fire.

Not being primed may be an issue, but it may be there is still moisture in the cement/bricks (if that is the surface it was painted on).

Check with your Secretary of State for an answer as to why this is going on too long. . . .You might contact the State Contractors Board, also Sometimes there is a TV station who would like to get hold of this. . .HA HA

Paint does not usually stick to dealer. You may. Red to sand it.

Yea, I too had a house fire - for two days. The fire department didn't completely check the rock wool in the attic and it flared up the next day. It took me a year too, so I'm feeling your pain.

If the walls in the basement sat in water, they should have been removed up to 2 feet above the water line. If they were just streaked with water and the restoration company came in quickly with the dryers, they're probably okay. I'll bet the sealer was oil based (that masks the smell of smoke better. And every bit of drywall absorbs that smell. I took mine down to the studs and removed all the insulation because of it.) So, the latex will not stick to the oil based sealer. Take pictures and make the company come back to scrap all the paint off that's flaking, do a light float of plaster on all the walls and try again with the latex, if you want. Personally, I prefer oil based paint in the basement because of moisture.

I have nothing but horror stories about my "professional" restoration company, from all the damage to my antique furniture, to the expensive items that mysteriously disappeared. Good luck.