There are a number of reasons why your paint could be peeling off of the walls. Paint can begin to peel within days or years of the coat being applied, so it’s important to look for damage on a regular basis.
Paint begins to peel when there becomes a lack of adhesion between the paint and the surface. A number of things could reduce the adhesion of the paint, causing it to paint, blister, or crack.
One of the most common sources of peeling paint is water damage. This could be due to high humidity and too much condensation, dampness behind the paint, or leakages coming through from the outside.
Painting on dirty walls or poorly preparing the surface is another common cause of peeling paint. Using a paint that doesn’t work on the specific surface could also cause an issue, as well as using expired paint or layering it up too much.
Poor quality paints, using the wrong primer, and bad application will also increase the chances of the paint blistering. You might also experience paint peeling if the wall is subjected to high temperatures and too much sunlight.
There are multiple reasons why your paint will be peeling. Luckily, it should be rather easy to determine why your paint is peeling by giving your house a quick inspection.
You should always be sure that the paints and primers you’re using are in good condition and not expired before use.
Why is the paint peeling off my outside walls?
Paint peeling off an outside wall can be very annoying and unsightly, as well as much more difficult to fix than peeling paint on interior walls.
There are a few reasons why your paint might be peeling on the outside of your house, most of which are similar to the reasons that we looked at for inside walls.
Moisture is one of the biggest threats to paint. Moisture can reduce the adhesion of the paint, either between the layers of paint or the original surface. Moisture can start to blister the paint and, when left to its own devices, the blisters will burst and begin to peel.
Another common reason for exterior paint to peel is because it was applied over a poorly prepared surface. A poor surface could be wet or dirty.
Before painting the outside of your house, you need to clean the walls and wait for them to completely dry before using a primer and paint.
If you don’t properly prepare the walls, the paint will last much less time than it should do and you’ll have to repair the peeling paint all over again. It’s best to paint exterior walls during the summer when it’s at its hottest and driest.
Low-quality paint is another reason why paint might peel. You can also put it down to the underlying layers of paint having poor adhesion before being repainted.
This is the reason why, when you discover peeling paint, you should not simply repaint it. The below layers will cause the new layers to do the exact same.
How do you keep paint from peeling?
Once you find that your paint is peeling off of the walls, it is too late to save it. Instead, you’ll need to remove the peeling paint and reapply the paint more effectively so that it doesn’t peel again.
The peeling paint needs to be removed with either a wire brush, paint scraper, or sandpaper sheet. Carefully remove the loose paint without causing too much of the intact paint to come away from the wall.
Once all of the paint has been removed from the wall, you’ll need to re-establish a smooth surface to prevent any uneven walls. Prime the wall with a high-quality primer, wait for it to dry, and paint the walls evenly.
Let it dry properly and add another coat of paint if it’s necessary.
To avoid the paint peeling before it’s too late, you need to keep the walls in the optimal circumstances possible. This means that there shouldn’t be too much condensation or moisture being able to collect on the paint.
The paint should also be high-quality and you need to use the correct primers for the intended use. For example, using a primer for interior use only on exterior walls will not keep the walls in superior condition.
Likewise, some paints are only compatible with primers from the same manufacturer. You should do some research into the paint that you’re using before painting the walls so that you know the best way to apply it to avoid it from peeling.
Is peeling paint a sign of dampness?
Yes, peeling paint can be a sign that you have damp within your walls. When non-breathable building materials have been used on the walls, such as plaster or vinyl paints, moisture can become trapped behind them.
The moisture needs somewhere to go, but the lack of breathability stops the moisture from being dried up. So, the moisture seeps through the paint and causes the paint to separate from the walls. This can cause the dreaded peeling.
In modern homes, peeling paint is most commonly found in steamy areas such as the kitchen or bathrooms. These rooms will typically have poor ventilation, making it the ideal place for moisture to get behind the paint and cause it to bubble and crack.
Keeping proper ventilation to all painted areas of your home can prevent the damp from seeping behind the paint and causing it to peel.
However, if it is too late and you need to start all over again, the best thing to do is to use a primer before the paint to ensure that it has a good surface to adhere to that will prevent moisture from coming between the layers.
Once you have repainted the wall with primer and your chosen color of paint, make sure that you fix the dampness issue. Introduce a ventilation system or fix the exterior source of leaking water.
