If you want to paint over peeling paint you will need to peel off as much as you can, unfortunately. The reason being is that if your paint is peeling that means it is not adhering to the surface. This can be caused by a chemical bond failure or a mechanical bond failure. Once you peeled as much paint as possible, either by sanding or by using a Spackling knife, you can seal the rest. Using a problem surface sealer you can encapsulate the rest of the paint and stop further peeling.
What Is Peel Stopping Primer?
This specially formulated primer is a thick primer that has the consistency of pudding almost.
Watch how I use Gardz for a problem surface bathroom.
It is milky white and dries clear.
It acts like glue once fully dried and cured. A good option is Zinsser Gardz.
It is fairly low priced and works wonders.
At 518 Painters we use it to lock down peeling wallpaper whenever we are unable to remove it entirely.
Related articleHow To Remove Wallpaper
You will, however, need to do a skim coat or 2 of drywall Spackle or else your topcoat will have a texture.
Painting Over Peeling Exterior Paint
It is a bit easier with the exterior.
Peeling exterior paint can be a common problem with houses that are over 10 or 20 years old.
It results when moisture gets into the cracks of the paint and causes it to bubble up.
Why Is The Paint Peeling Off My Exterior Walls?
In some cases, this could be a sign of a more serious problem that requires the attention of a professional.
The purpose of paint is to protect the underlying surface, and this protection can be short-lived if the surface beneath it isn’t prepared properly.
The paint peeling off your exterior walls might be an indication of a serious problem. The reasons for peeling paint can vary widely.
Painting over dirty walls, improper prep, excess moisture, and improper or excessive application are just a few of the potential causes.
The first step in solving the problem is figuring out what exactly is causing the peeling paint.
Examine the problem area closely and examine the quality of the paint.
If you have previously painted over dirty walls, make sure that they are clean before repainting.
Before painting, check to see if there is any moisture trapped between the siding and the sheathing of your house.
Look around for signs such as mold growth, moss, or mildew on your exterior surfaces, and make sure to dry these areas thoroughly beforehand.
A moisture barrier will help prevent water from seeping behind your siding or sheathing.
When painting, use high-quality paint that is appropriate for your climate and temperature to ensure maximum durability.
How To Prep Exterior Walls For Painting
But to get rid of the peeling paint on your exterior walls, follow these steps: Remove loose paint.
Use a putty knife to scrape off any loose paint from your exterior walls. In order to properly fill holes with wood filler, you need to have clean walls.
To remove all the loose paint before continuing. Fill holes with wood filler.
Wood filler is used in both interior and exterior projects and comes in different textures depending on the size of the hole you want to fill.
Place some wood filler into the hole in your wall and then spread it with a wet finger until it is flush with the wall’s surface.
Wipe off any excess wood filler before it dries with a damp cloth and let it dry for 24 hours before painting over it with a peel bond primer.
Once it dries, sand it to a smooth finish using 120-grit sandpaper.
A peel bond primer acts as a glue as well and will stop any chipping or “gator skin” from further occurring.
Fresh Paint Peeling Off The Wall
If you just painted your walls and are wondering why the paint is coming off then there might be one of the following examples occurring.
1. You just painted your walls, and the paint did not have enough time to cure.
The paint might be dry to the touch, but it takes up to 30 days to fully cure.
Also, if your room is humid or if it is raining outside, then that might prolong the drying and curing time
2. You did not check if the previous paint might have been an oil-based paint most commonly found in older homes.
It can also be found in a lot of new homes, mostly on trim, stairs, and doors.
You can do a simple test by rubbing nail polish remover or acetone on the surface.
If the paint rubs off, it is not oil-based.
Why Is Paint Peeling Off My Trim?
If you are wondering why the paint is peeling off your trim then there are 3 reasons that could be causing this.
Reason 1: You painted over oil-based paint with latex paint.
Oil-based paint needs an oil-based primer to adhere to it.
Only then can you paint over it with any water-based paint.
Related article Paint Water-Based Paint Over Oil-Based Primer
Reason 2: You painted over bare wood without using a bonding primer first and now there is no bond between your surface and material.
Related article Best Oil Based Primers For Wood And More
Reason 3: You used low-quality / cheap paint.
Let’s be honest. If you want to achieve the best and longest-lasting results then you can’t be frugal when it comes to buying materials.
If your trim looks like this…
then there is most likely a compatibility issue between your top coat and your previous coat of paint.
The new paint is not adhering to the previous layer.
This was because someone used Latex paint to paint over oil-based paint without using an oil-based primer.
Related article Best Oil Based Primers For Wood And More
To fix this, you’ll have to remove any loose paint by peeling and sanding it with 120-grit sandpaper.
An electric sander would work best.
Something like this Black And Decker model that I like because it easily gets into tight corners and edges.
Once all of the peeling paint has been removed, you can go ahead and use an oil-based primer.
One coat should be enough.
Let everything dry for about 24 hours, then it’s ready for paint.
How Do You Fix Chipped Paint On Baseboards?
If your paint is peeling, then you have to scrape and sand off as much as possible.
Sometimes you have no other choice but to strip the paint off completely with a paint stripper.
Then you would have to prime the bare wood with an oil-based primer again.
Can You Paint Over the Peeling Paint On the Trim?
Sometimes you’ll be able to just sand the peeling spots until they’re smooth and go over them with a peel-stopping primer such as Zinsser.
After that’s dried, Your best choice would be to paint over the old finish with a semi-gloss or gloss enamel after sanding and priming.
If your baseboard looks like this…
By looking at the wood, you can tell that whoever painted this trim did not use a bonding primer.
Whenever you paint over wood and poly finishes, you need to scuff sand and use an oil-based primer.
Related article Best Oil Based Primers For Wood And More
