By 7017527697 • 25 Jun, 2019
Peeling paint significantly lowers the attractiveness of a building. A beautiful house turns into a rotting structure and a clean bathrooms turns into an unsanitary mess when paint peels from the walls and siding. Paint can start to peel a few days to several years after application, and is most common on drywall and plaster ceiling. However, it can still happen in other areas of your home such as bathrooms, wooden decks, trim, siding, and window frames. You may be wondering what is causing your paint to peel from your home. This can actually be caused by a variety of things, but the most common reasons are water, high humidity, excessive condensation, poor surface preparation, using a paint incompatible with the surface, quality and condition of paint and primer, poor application methods, high temperature, and intense sunlight. Water, High Humidity, and Excessive Condensation Water is the primary cause of flaking paint on both bathroom walls and ceilings, as well as exterior walls. This is because water penetrates through the coats of paint, which causes the layers to separate and detach from the surface. High humidity can also cause moisture to build up on the walls. The end result of this is cracked and chipped layers of paint. Condensation usually occurs during and after a rainstorm. This leads to dampness and facilitates a favorable environment for mold and mildew. The fungi causes layers of paint to lift up and flake, and can also ruin new coats of paint. Water, high humidity, and excessive condensation is by far the most common reason that paint peels from the walls. This is particularly true in West Michigan because of the high humidity and condensation that comes with living so close to the great lakes. Poor Surface Preparation Another common reason that paint peels from the walls is poor surface preparation. For a coat of paint to stick, the surface should be wiped down properly. Paint will not stick to dirty surfaces, and it won’t take long before it begins to blister and peel. Dirt, grease, and oil prevent paint from adhering properly to wooden, metallic, and even concrete surfaces. Even if you don’t see anything dirty about it, something as small as dust, which is often leftover from freshly sanded drywall, can hinder paint from sticking properly. Using a Paint Incompatible to the Surface Another issue that can cause paint to peel is the use of a paint that is incompatible to the surface it is being used on. Some surfaces contain substances that react with paints that hinders its compatibility. New wood produces natural oils that can prevent effective paint adhesion. Smooth or glossy surfaces also have compatibility problems with some paints. Achieving full adhesion to a surface can be difficult when using some synthetic polymer materials. Polymers that are chemically cured make this compatibility problem much worse. Examples of these materials are epoxy and polyurethane. Making sure you are using paint that is compatible with the surface type is so important! Latex paints work best on brick, concrete blocks, drywall, painted/sealed wood and paneling. Oil-based paints are best on raw wood and metal surfaces. Quality and Condition of Paint and Primer The condition and quality of the paint you use is SO important. Using expired paint, the wrong type of primer, or low-quality paint brands can cause problems. There are different kinds of primers available for different surfaces. Primers are also designed to be used with different kinds of paints, so using the wrong primer can also lead to peeling. A similar outcome happens if you use expired paint. Paints expire after a certain amount of time and can separate, grow mold or mildew, and freeze. If your paint exhibits any signs of this or smells abnormal, then it is expired. If you decide to use it, you should expect to have a flaking problem. Some paint brands are really poor when it comes to flexibility and adhesion. Low-quality paints don’t dry or stick properly and will normally peel after a short amount of time. Paints that contain calcimine are not good, and you should choose a paint with lots of pigment, resin, and few solvents (such as water). Poor Application Methods Something as simple as using poor painting methods can cause paint to peel. Using the wrong brushes and applying layers too thin can make a coat of paint fail to adhere to the surface. This does not promote the formation of strong cohesive bonds to hold paint molecules together. Weak layers that are vulnerable to cracking and chipping are the result of poor application methods. High Temperatures and Intense Sunlight Paint does not adhere well to surfaces that often experience above standard temperatures. Intense sunlight makes oil paint fragile and vulnerable to cracking. Latex and elastic paints expand and contract when exposed to the sun. This ultimately weakens their adhesive bonds causing the paint to peel. High temperatures cause paint to dry faster, which prevents layers from forming strong bonds.
