At some point, all painted surfaces will show cracks, flakes, peels and blisters because no paint will last forever. However, there are certain steps used by house painters that can be taken to ensure that the paint will last as long as possible.
How to Keep your Paint from Peeling
Choose a Flexible Paint: Latex or water-based paints that are 100% acrylic resin have the greatest flexibility and it breathes as well so fewer blisters, cracks and peels form. Oil based paint however has less flexibility and is more likely to deteriorate.
In addition, too many coats of paint will tend to fall apart under the weight while too few coats or coats that are thinly applied will more easily crack under the stress of different weather conditions. In fact, the changes in the weather and temperature affect the durability of paint as well, especially comparing exposed walls of paint to more protected areas.
Paint also cannot form a bond to weathered wood as there is no solid surface for it to attach properly. Therefore, it is recommended to sand or strip the wood until the non-weathered parts show on the surface.
Primer: Primers are created to give the top coat of paint better adhesion, so choose the right primer for your main coat of paint to stick. Apply the top coat no more than two weeks after the primer for the best results.
Mildew: Mildew can erode the paint film, so if it is present before you paint, you will need to remove it using one part bleach to three parts water to kill the mildew. Rinse the surface afterwards and let it dry before applying the paint.
Painted Surface: To ensure that the old paint is secure to the surface, apply duct tape by rubbing it firmly into the old paint, then ripping it away. If the old paint is still there, you can paint over it. Otherwise, you’ll need to strip away the old paint first before applying a new coat.
Water Vapor: Paint can blister and peel when exposed to too much moisture or humidity. Before you paint the room again, the humidity will need to be removed first using dehumidifiers, leak repairs or exhaust vents. Once dry, the paint can be applied which will then protect the walls from the moisture or humidity.
Heat: Heat can blister paint as it dries up to 24 hours after the coat is applied. One way to avoid this is the old “follow the sun around the house” rule used by professional house painters. In essence, paint the south side early in the morning, the west side around noon and then the north and east sides late in the day. When done properly, this will prevent blisters in the paint from forming as it dries.
Puckers: To keep paint from puckering, do not paint on a wet surface or when it will rain within 48 hours. Plus, you should tilt windowsills slightly downward so that they don’t hold moisture and have wide roof overhangs to protect wall boards to keep water from collecting which will pucker the paint.
In addition, you should paint in weather conditions that are within the temperature range of the paint itself which is listed on the can. Plus, you should use a good, high quality paint that comes with a guarantee of five, ten or fifteen years when properly applied.
