Help! I Have Paint Problems!
Why did my paint do this?
For most homeowners, painting isn’t one of their favorite tasks…you like the end result, you just don’t want to do the job. Then, after the job is complete and you’re ready to admire and enjoy your work you notice something that doesn’t look quite right.
After all the time you have invested in your project, to have problems with the paint can be very frustrating…Can you fix or avoid such things as paint blistering or bubbles, paint that cracks or flakes, painting lap marks, paint “flashing” and many others?
Below is a list of the common paint problems and what you can do to avoid or fix them:
- Paint “Stippling” – Stippling is actually when the roller leaves a pattern in the paint, rather than going on smoothly.
- Cause: Using the wrong or an inexpensive roller cover, or using low grade paint.
- Solution: Along with using the right roller cover and a quality paint, there is a technique that will give you a better end result: If you’re using latex paint, lightly dampen your roller. Working in small 3 ft. sections, begin near the ceiling and work your way down the wall in a W or M pattern, then keeping the roller on the surface, fill in the pattern with parallel strokes.
- Blistered Paint – Bubbles or blisters form just below the surface of the paint, even after the paint has been dry for a long period of time.
- Cause: Several conditions can cause blistered paint such as painting over dirty or damp surfaces, applying oil-based paint over latex paint, failure to prepare the surface properly or exposing the newly painted surface to too much moisture.
- Solution: Blistering can be prevented by avoiding certain conditions: paint when it’s not too hot or too much moisture in the air and be sure the surface is clean, dry and well-primed.
- Fix: If the blistering doesn’t go down the the wall board, you can sand and scrape them down to a smooth surface, prime and re-paint.
Cracked Paint – Cracks or flaking can start out small,but will most likely get worse as time goes on.
- Cause: Low quality paint, poor surface prep, paint applied too thinly, applying the 2nd or 3rd coats of paint before the 1st one is completely dry or applying oil-based paint over latex.
- Fix: As with the blistered paint, you can scrape the cracked areas, and then sand, prime and re-paint. If the flaking is too deep, once you have removed the flaked areas and sanded, you may need to use filler to even the surface before re-painting.
- Painting Lap Marks – Lap marks give the appearance of deeper color or more intense gloss in the areas where painting has overlapped.
- Cause: Using low-quality paint or letting one section of the surface dry before painting the adjacent area.
- Solution: By painting small areas of your surface, you can keep the edges wet and get an even looking paint job. If you must stop for a time, take your break from your project when you are at a corner or edge of the door or window where a dry edge won’t cause a problem. Also, be sure you have used a primer and use a high quality paint.
- You can get a more unified look by rolling or brushing your paint on going from the wet surface toward the drier surface.
- Paint “Flashing” – Paint flashing is when the sheen of the paint is not consistent, some parts look shinier or duller than the rest.
- Cause: This can occur the same way that lap marks occur, when the edges are dry before applying more paint, or if the surface has not been primed properly.
- Solution: Unpainted surfaces should be primed properly, which seals the surfaces and allows a more unified paint job. Use the wet to dry method explained above.
- Fix: Sometimes by applying another coat of paint, the problem will be solved.
