Common Paint Problems and How to Spot Them
Paint problems don’t just affect appearance — they can signal moisture issues, surface damage, or poor adhesion. On this page, you’ll learn how to identify the most common paint failures, what causes them, and what steps you can take to prevent further damage and keep your home looking its best.
Patterned cracking in the paint film resembling the scales of an alligator. These cracks generally do not expose the substrate.
Possible Causes
-Natural aging of oil-based paints due to temperature fluctuation. The constant expansion and contraction results in a loss of paint film elasticity.
-Application of an extremely hard, rigid coating, like an oil enamel, over a softer, more flexible coating.
-Application of a topcoat before the primer or basecoat is dry.
-Application of a coating over a glossy finish.
Solution
-Remove old paint by scraping, sanding, chemical removers, or a heat gun.
-Follow all manufacturers’ cautions when using chemical removers or heat guns.
-Remove all surface contamination by washing with an appropriate cleaner; rinse thoroughly and allow to dry. Glossy surfaces should be sanded dull.
-Follow the label and data page directions for the appropriate drying time for any product.
Bubbles caused from a loss of adhesion and lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface.
Possible Causes
-Painting in direct sunlight on a surface that is too warm can cause heat blistering.
-Moisture blistering can be caused by water migrating from the inside, through a wall to the exterior, pushing the paint off of the surface.
-Application of oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp or wet surface.
-Exposure of latex paint film to dew, high humidity, moisture, or rain shortly after the paint has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface preparation and/or poor ventilation in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
-Damp basements. Moisture seeping into the home through the exterior walls. Insufficient surface preparation.
Solution
-If blisters go down to the substrate, the cause is likely to be moisture escaping from the surface.
-Remove all loose paint by scraping or other methods, and sand the surface to smooth out any rough edges.
-Determine and repair any cause of excess moisture before repainting.
-Repair old or damaged caulking or install new caulking as needed, install vents or exhaust fans or siding wedges to allow the moisture a path to escape without going through the paint.
-If blisters go down to an earlier coating, remove all loose paint by scraping or other methods, and sand the surface to smooth out any rough edges. Sand any glossy surface dull.
-Allow sufficient drying time after cleaning.
The lifting of paint from the underlying surface in the form of flakes.
Possible Causes
-Flaking is generally preceded by cracking or checking, and will occur over different surfaces.
-Expansion and contraction of wood and plywood outside caused by temperature and humidity changes may cause a cracking in the surface that then gets transmitted through the coating.
-On wood with an excessive amount of “flat” hard grain pattern, which is smooth, hard, and nonporous, there may be poor paint penetration; flaking can occur on these areas.
-Flaking can also occur due to poor surface preparation and/or applying too thin a coat of paint.
Solution
-Scrape, sand, or scrub with a wire brush to remove all loose and peeling paint.
-Sand if needed to fresh wood.
-Wood must not be allowed to weather prior to coating.
-Follow the label and data page directions for surface preparation for the coating and drying time for any product.
Appearance of a darker/denser colour or higher sheen where two layers overlap during paint application.
Possible Causes
-Failure to maintain a “wet edge” when painting.
-Essentially, some areas are receiving 2 coats.
-Painting on an unsealed surface.
-Painting under high temperatures.
Solution
-Maintain a wet edge. When painting, apply paint in the unpainted area first and then back into the wet paint surface. This technique will produce a smooth, uniform appearance.
-Work in manageable-size areas; plan for interruptions at a natural break, such as a window, door, or corner.
-Begin rolling at a corner near the ceiling and work down the wall in three-foot-square sections. Spread the paint in an “N” pattern, starting rolling from a dry area into the wet area. Cross-roll to fill in the “N”.
