Guide To Fix Peeling Paint on Walls
Paint
coming off the walls of a house looks awful. It gives a feeling that the unit
is old and in a dilapidated condition. No homeowner wants that, as it
diminishes the property’s value. Before we address the problem, it is important
to know what causes a flaky wall. In this blog, we will touch upon those
reasons and also some of the ways to fix walls with peeling paint.
STEP-BY-STEP
GUIDE TO FIX PEELING PAINT ON WALLS
Homeowners
not only spend their hard-earned money in building a house but also put in a
lot of time and effort in planning the layout and design of their dream home.
If the house they had so lovingly built shows signs of peeling paint sooner
than they expected, then all their efforts go in vain. Nobody wants their dream
home to look rotten and dilapidated. That is why it is important to know some
DIY ways to fix walls with peeling paint. But first, let’s identify the signs
that show the paint has started to come off.
Let’s
begin.
RECOGNIZE
THE TELL-TALE SIGNS OF PEELING PAINT
There
are three important signs that tell us that the paint on your wall needs
attention.
Spidery
web-like cracks
If
the paint on the wall appears like a spider web then it is time to redo the
paint job
If
the paint on the wall has cracks in the shape of a spidery web, then make sure
to immediately inspect the entire area with the problematic patch. Most
professional painters think that insufficient prep work on the walls is the leading
cause behind these kinds of cracks.
Bubbly
Peeling
A
bubble-like appearance on the wall is a tell-tale sign of paint coming off.
The
paint that gives a bubbly appearance is mostly because of excess moisture in
the area. Either there has been a leakage in the pipe or seepage in the walls
that retains the moisture in the specific area. This causes the paint on the
walls to give a bubble-like appearance.
Flaky
paint
If
the paint is coming off like a banana peel then it is called flaky paint.
If
your wall has peeling paint that is coming off in the form of large flakes,
then it is time to fix the seepage in walls, control the moisture in the area
and then repaint the surface to make the wall look new.
Moisture-laden walls.
Weather conditions.
Incompatibility with the surface.
Inferior-quality paints.
Let’s
discuss each of them one by one.
Lots
of Moisture
In
a house, bathroom and kitchen are the two places where there is a lot of
moisture and dampness. Therefore, you will see that these places are the first
to report the problem of flaky paint. When moisture is absorbed, it passes
through various coats of paint, removing the adhesive that sticks the paint to
the wall. Therefore, you can spot paint coming off in the form of flakes or
like a banana peel. This shows the extra moisture in the walls need to be
addressed immediately.
Too
much sunlight
Paint
often chips off walls due to high temperatures. If direct sunlight hits the
walls all day, it can cause the paint to dry out faster. The oil paints start
to crack, while latex paints lose their quality to stick to the walls.
Incompatible
Paints
When
painting, it is extremely important to use the same kind of paint on the
surface that’s being coated. For instance, if it is latex paint, it isn’t
compatible with oil-based paints and shouldn’t be painted on top of each other.
If you are planning to use the leftover oil-paint as a second coat over the
base coat of latex paint, then be prepared to see the paint coming off sooner
than expected.
Also,
make sure the surface on which you are about to paint is compatible with the
paint you are using. For instance, smooth surfaces require a certain kind of
paint and layering that keeps the coating intact. For uneven surfaces, it’s
better to go for textured paint. It is important to prime and prep the surface
first before applying a coat of paint to make sure the paint doesn’t come off
easily.
Low-quality
paints
Some
paints seem good, especially to your wallet, but once you use them, you will
face bad consequences. Inferior-quality paints do not adhere to the walls
properly and also do not give a nice finish once the paint job is done. To
avoid cracks in the walls, do not use low-quality or expired paints.
HOW
TO FIX WALLS WITH PEELING PAINT
There
are plenty of ways to fix walls with peeling paint. There are different steps
to the process, but it is quite simple and easy and you don’t need a
professional painter to fix it for you. Let’s guide you through the DIY process
of repainting the walls.
Scrub off the flaky paint
Repair any holes or cracks
Ensure the surface is smooth
Clean the surface
Use a primer
Repaint the wall
The
first step to repairing cracks in the walls is to remove the flaky paint.
Scrub
off the flaky paint
In
order to fix walls with peeling paint, it is important to remove all chipped
paint from the walls first. Make sure to wear safety gear, gloves, and goggles.
Keep a newspaper or any spare cloth to catch the flaky paint coming off?
Before
you come hard on those cracks, make sure to check for any leakage and seepage
in the walls to avoid getting paint cracks again.
Repair
any holes or cracks
Putty
being mixed using a knife.
The
patching compound that is used to fill in the cracks is called ‘putty.’ Use a
knife and apply the putty generously on the walls to fill out any gaps and
holes. Allow it to dry out completely and then repeat the process, if
necessary. Use sandpaper to blend the surface.
Fill
in the cracks using the putty mixture with a flat-surfaced tool like a scalpel
Check
the surface with your fingers, if you feel any rough edges then sand it again
to achieve a completely smooth surface. Clean the surface using a dry cloth.
Make sure there is not even an iota of moisture on the wall before you start
painting it. You don’t want those cracks again!
Use
a primer
First
coat a primer before you actually paint the surface again.
It
is important to select the right kind of primer for your wall. You might need
to consult a professional in this regard. A pro tip for moisture-laden surfaces
like peeling paint in bathrooms is to use an oil-based primer that blocks out
stains and moisture. It also provides added protection against fungus,
watermarks and mildew.
Repaint
the wall
Repaint
the wall to give your wall a new look!
Make
sure the primer is completely dry before you redo a paint job. The size of the
brush depends upon the area where you have to repaint the wall. If the entire
wall needs retouching then a roller brush is good to use. If it is a specific
area that needs a makeover, then use a small brush. You should also check out
which type of paint finish you should choose for your wall before repainting
the wall.
A
pro tip: Let the paint dry out completely before you use the room. If it is a
bathroom that you have repainted, you have to be extra careful to ensure that
the paint has completely dried out on its own before you use the bathroom or
else you will face those paint cracks again.
So,
this was a comprehensive DIY guide to fix walls with peeling paint. If you know
of any other tips, then write to us at info@araaj.pk.
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