Thread: Not a build and not in Thailand, but...

But it didn't seem like a lounge topic.
We're opening a small sauna in a shophouse in our complex. it's some kind if Chinese new you beaut technology (nanomicrosomething) dry sauna.
It's the wifes project, I don't know the full details. All I know was if i didn't hand over the dough (not too much) my life would be made miserable for some time or at least untill the divorce.
Anyway. the fucking truck with all the important materials has made it as far as Foshan before the shipping company has thrown in the towel and gone home for Chinese new Year. Seems damned odd to me, but this is China. (TIC).
Anyway, there are some walls I could do some work on before things get underway again and I'd like to apply some nice gloss paint.
The problem is these muppets have no idea about paint.
Everything is some kind of whitewash or something that I suppose is cheap but comes off on you if you brush against it and makes your clothes white.
So they've plastered the walls and they're white (washed?), but I'd like to apply some proper paint.
I don't think it's be a good idea to apply it directly on top of this, so do I have to remove it completely or can I just sand it back a bit?
Should I use an undercoat?
Any advice welcome, thanks.