Nothing can be peskiest than the sight of a wall with peeling, cracked paint. It starts with thin vein-like lines and over a while, the cracks start getting deeper and bigger chunks of paint starts chipping off. What causes this paint failure? There may be many factors at play that causes the adhesion strength to weaken between the paint and the surface it is applied to. Let’s see some of the common reasons and see what we can do to rescue our interior and exterior walls from this problem.
Possible Causes of Crackling and Peeling Paint
According to the painting services experts cracking is caused when dry paint film splits and flaking arises when the paint is uprooted from the wall surface. The main causes of these two common problems are:
– Excess Moisture: Humidity fluctuation is the main culprit for the paint to peel, sometimes when the paint is applied to a damp wall with existing water seepage can cause this problem too. It’s best to contact the waterproofing services to get the wall treated before starting the paint job.
– Cheap Quality Paint: Low-quality paint tend to have poor adhesive properties and flexibility, causing the paint to notoriously peel and crack sooner than you expect.
- Insufficient Surface Preparation: Another common reason for the paint to peel is when the surface is not cleaned and primmed properly.
- Inconsistent Application: Applying the right consistency of the paint matters, an overtly thick coat of paint gives the wall a clumpy air-bubble lock look and eventually it starts to become flaky.
- Age of Paint – Sometimes the cracks and peeling of paint happen simply because of aging. Painted walls due to exposure to sun, humidity, rain, become rigid and brittle.
Preventive Measures
Let’s take a look at some of the tips to avoid these paint failures in the future.
- Before you start painting the wall, inspect and identify any water seepage which can cause complete havoc with your painting attempt. Usually, the exterior walls due to rain, kitchen, and bathroom walls due to plumbing issues are more prone to this problem, so it’s best to contact a professional to have the repairs done.
- Prepare the wall by first making it dust-free and then smooth out the wall using paint sanders to remove old paint flakes and uneven spots.
- Undercoat your wall with superior quality primer, it not only increases the durability of your paint but also provides additional protection to your walls.
- Once the primer dries completely, your wall is not ready for painting. Don’t over-dilute your paint with the thinner, maintain the right consistency.
- Use only branded high-quality paint for the best results.
- Allow enough time for the first coat of the paint to dry, painting the second coat too early can cause an uneven finish.
- Take the weather condition into consideration, it’s best to undertake this project on a nice bright sunny day.
If the cracking is superficial, then it can easily be corrected by following the above tips next time you are ready to paint. However, if the damage is extensive, then leave the matter in the hands of a professional who will give you a clear picture of the extent of damage and what treatments are required to be undertaken before you add a fresh perspective to your walls!
