I'll see if I have this sequence right...

1) You applied a tinted latex primer over contractors work.
Correct?
2) Exactly what primer & tone of color were used?
3) Your own joint-compound repairs were done OVER this newly primed surface??
4) Were YOUR repairs primed over?
5) What do you mean by the "joint-compound with a latex additive"? Or, am I mis-reading this?
6) At any point...was the wall ever sanded AND vacuumed off??

I'm about 90% sure that the paint is bubbling over dusty areas, AND/OR over the areas that you repaired AFTER the initial priming.

Let us know!
Faron

Dear Faron:

My husband read my post and made some corrections. I'll answer you and make the corrections below in UPPER CASE. I'M NOT YELLING, THOUGH :)

1) You applied a tinted latex primer over contractors work.
Correct? YES
2) Exactly what primer & tone of color were used? BENJ MOORE PRIMER FRESH START ACRYLIC. STONE SOMETHING, A MEDIUM COLOR AT 50% WAS USED TO TINT.
3) Your own joint-compound repairs were done OVER this newly primed surface?? YES, BUT IT REALLY WASN'T THE SEAMS, IT WAS MORE SLIGHT LOW AREAS IN THE SKIM COAT.
4) Were YOUR repairs primed over? YES WITH THE SAME BENJ MOORE FRESH START.
5) What do you mean by the "joint-compound with a latex additive"? Or, am I mis-reading this? HUSBAND CORRECTED ME THAT IT WAS A VINYL SPACKLE.
6) At any point...was the wall ever sanded AND vacuumed off?? THE WALL WAS SANDED DOWN TO A SMOOTH FINISH AND WIPED WITH A DRY CLOTH PRIOR TO PAINTING.

This is what we determined. Yesterday morning was foggy/dewy. This is being painted in our future house (old construction though) where no a/c or heat was run. Husband said the windows had condensation on the outside. The bubbling occurred most on the wall near the windows.

The clue to our answer is, "Why didn't we have problems the first time we primed but had problems the second time we primed when the same products were being used each time."

Now that we know the cause and will run the a/c or heater to dry any area prior to painting ever again, BUT

what's the best way to handle what we have now?
- Sanding, patching, repriming the bubbled areas...is it going to peel in adjacent areas?
- If it didn't bubble, is it ok to paint the final coat of Benj Moore Regal Eggshell? Or do we need to Kilz now to try to prevent the whole wall from peeling off?

Any insight is REALLY, REALLY appreciated. He worked a long time on that large entry way with 15' ceilings and are just sick over it.

Thank you.

"THE WALL WAS SANDED DOWN TO A SMOOTH FINISH AND WIPED WITH A DRY CLOTH PRIOR TO PAINTING."

This could be part of the problem. After I sand a wall smooth (usually with a random orbital sander) to remove any particles and high spots in the previous paint job, I vacuum with a shop vac and then wipe everything with a damp sponge. If you had significant dust left in areas, that may explain the bubbles - poor adhesion.

Pete

I have bubbling paint in my bathroom. Contractor did a horrible job with the new drywall and it wasn't primed. Kitchen/Bath paint used. The bubbles appear with the moisture from a shower even though exhaust fan is running. Then they deflate but you can still see them. Would this be from dust also or is it a moisture problem? How would I fix? Thanks.