August 28, 2017

Does Peeling Paint Always Require a Brand-New Paint Job?

Peeling paint on your home’s exterior doesn’t always mean that a new paint job is required because there are ways to repaint just a section of the walls without repainting the entire home. However, most experts agree that when the peeling covers a wide enough section of your home, a new paint job is the best action to take. Peeling paint can occur at any time and doesn’t just happen to older homes or homes that haven’t been painted in a while. It is good to know what causes paint to peel and what to look for so that the decision of whether to repaint is a lot easier to make.

What Causes Paint to Peel?

Although this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, the number-one cause of peeling paint is water. Water vapor can condense underneath the finish or primer, which causes pressure that makes the paint lift and crack. It may start out small but the lifting can allow more water to build up and therefore more peeling to occur. Water can also get into paint through split or inadequate caulking, but if you apply a good sealant and utilize the right caulking techniques, this shouldn’t happen. In addition, some older homes do not have plastic vapor barriers between the drywall and the home’s framing, enabling your paint to collect more moisture than it should. Finally, there are certain types of wood siding that should always be stained instead of painted because paints can actually increase the likelihood of moisture that can cause peeling.

Additional Reasons Why Paint Peels

Paint can also peel due to using an interior paint for the exterior of your home, contamination of the surface of the exterior, and painting the exterior of your home when it is cold outside. You also need to pay attention to the types of paint that you use because you cannot mix certain types of paint if you want the job done right. For instance, oil bases should not have acrylic or latex paint applied over them, especially because oil-based paints can become dry or brittle over time. These and other tips, many of which can be found online, allow you to go longer between paintings because the incidents of peeling paint are much less frequent.

If you do decide to paint over peeling paint chips, several steps are involved including stripping off all the peeling paint, making the surface of the exterior wall smooth and bump-free, and, of course, using the right types of paint from the very beginning. High-quality paints made by top brands are always recommended because many of the lesser-known paints simply don’t have the same quality as the top brands do. The top-end paints both work better and last longer so spending a little more on the brands that are reputable is always the smartest action to take. Hiring a professional painter is also recommended because an expert knows about the different paint types and the best ways to prepare the exterior for the upcoming paint job, enabling you to have the peace of mind that you deserve.

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