What are Common Paint Problems?

As a homeowner, painting a room in your home or its exterior is an exciting and new process that often comes with a great deal of questions. Common paint problems are something that most homeowners seek information about when they are about to start a new project or if they recently completed a project on their own and it didn’t work out very well. Below are a few common issues that can be found either before or after painting and what could have caused them as well as how to prevent them.

Cracking

It is not uncommon to see cracked paint in old homes, since the paint has cracked over the years due to age or excessive sun exposure. When age is the problem, removing the old paint and having a professional come in to apply a fresh coat of paint properly is the best solution. However, if new paint is cracking on a brick or drywall surface, then it is likely that the wall was not properly cleaned beforehand. Any residue of oils, dirt or grease can cause the paint to lift from the surface no matter how high quality the paint is. A full cleaning of the surface to be painted is best when trying to avoid a problem such as cracking. It is a particularly common problem in garages, since there is often a great deal of grease and oil in this area and removing it all isn’t always easy.

Another reason for cracking paint can be that the plaster itself has begun to crack, causing the paint on the surface to pull away. This is another problem that happens more often in older homes, but newer homes can experience this as well if there is an earthquake or if the brand-new home is simply drying out. To fix the plaster itself, professionals will usually make the crack in the plaster larger so that they can fill it, smooth it and repaint it.

Blistering

Seeing what looks like pockets of air behind your paint can be very alarming to a homeowner. This paint problem is known as blistering and is usually caused by moisture building up behind the paint. Sometimes, the moisture was there before the paint was applied and is now trying to escape. Areas which are subjected to a great deal of sunlight, such as the exterior of a wood-sided home, experience this problem the most. Unfortunately, the only way to stop blistering when water was trapped before the paint job is to remove all of the paint and allow the wood to dry out thoroughly before painting. This can be particularly difficult in damp climates, but professionals are able to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

When the blistering is due to moisture buildup without being trapped before the paintjob, it is important to have the building checked for water leaks since water could be seeping through the wood of your home and lifting the paint. Bathrooms are another area of the home that often experiences blistering. This can happen because the fan to remove moisture from the air during a shower or bath is not strong enough to prevent excessive moisture buildup. Simply changing the fan for a stronger one can prevent additional blistering.

Peeling

Nothing is more discouraging than seeing new paint peel away from its surface. Homeowners often do their best to buy the right supplies and use high quality products if they complete a job themselves, but there are often unaware of the many steps it takes to prevent peeling. A good quality primer is the most important factor when it comes to peeling problems and the wall or surface must also be clean before the primer is even applied. The primary cause of peeling is poor adhesion to the surface. Some paints are more adhesive than others, but it really comes down to surface preparation. If surface preparation was done properly and with good quality materials, then it is possible that each coat of paint was not allowed to dry well enough before the next coat was applied. Even when following instructions, different factors such as humidity can change the dry times of a paint. Professional painters know when the next coat can be applied just by looking, but amateurs tend to try an move too quickly.

These three issues are the most likely problems to come up when paintjobs go wrong or when there is a problem with your home that is destroying a quality paint job, such as a leaky roof or a leaky window frame. The best way to avoid these problems is to hire a professional painter to complete the job and to be honest and let them know if there is a particular problem that keeps coming back. That way, you can find a solution together and enjoy the newly painted surface for years to come.

If you are interested in getting a free estimate or want to learn more, you can contact us here or call us directly at 239.600.1418

What are Common Paint Problems?