Peeling paint must be removed prior to applying a fresh coat of paint to ensure proper adhesion.
If you do not scrape off peeling paint, your new paint job will peel off immediately. This is not an optional step. If you're going to spend top dollar on premium paints, solid prep work is absolutely necessary!
Painting over the chipped/peeling paint will do nothing but change the color of the chips and peelings, unfortunately. Removing the chipped paint and sanding it would release lead into the air and thus increasing exposure, which is what you're trying to avoid.
A new coat of paint is only as stable as the surface underneath. Peeling or flaking paint should always be removed prior to applying a fresh coat of paint. Pressure washing is one way to remove paint from wood, metal, concrete, and other exterior surfaces.
Remove all loose and flaking paint with a scraper or wire brush, sand the surface and feather the edges. If the flaking occurs in multiple layers of paint, use of filler may be necessary. Prime bare timber areas before repainting. Use of a premium quality primer and topcoat should prevent a recurrence of the problem.
Peeling paint is most commonly created when water gets under the paint. Therefore, the most common areas for peeling paint to occur are in the wet areas of a house or building e.g. bathroom, laundry or kitchen. However, there may be other issues with the premises such as excess humidity or a leaky roof.
For every decorating problem, Zinsser has the solution. Peel Stop is a clear, flexible bridging sealer for surfaces where peeling, flaking, dusting or chalking is a problem. It tightly bonds to old paint and problem areas forming a sound surface for new paint.
If moisture was the cause of peeling paint, it's particularly important to protect your newly painted area from having the same problem. Primer can help seal the surface, protect against moisture, and allow the paint to properly adhere.
Improper Painting Surface Preparation
The painting surface needs to be thoroughly prepared before the paint job is initiated. When the paint is applied on an unprimed or uneven surface, it will start blistering and peeling. Proper prep work is a must if you want to avoid this.
Apply Zinsser Peel Stop Plus
This thick, water-based primer locks down peeling edges and creates a smooth surface for painting. Apply it with a brush or roller. No need to scrape or sand beforehand!
Cracking paint is most often due to the paint system having inadequate adhesion and flexibility, both are common problems with lower quality paints. High quality paint systems are engineered for certain conditions and will include the necessary flexibility and adhesion properties to avoid cracking and eventual flaking.
Scraping paint is done with a combination of tools: a wire brush, a flat metal paint scraper, and a heat gun. Using all three tools makes paint scraping less tedious and time-consuming, and it produces longer-lasting, professional results.
A popular choice is Zinsser's Peel Stop, which is a water-based primer that penetrates chalky surfaces and helps to glue-down the edges of cracking and peeling coatings to the substrate so they can be successfully painted over. It can be used on both interior and exterior applications in lieu of paint stripping.
Peeling paint must be removed prior to applying a fresh coat of paint to ensure proper adhesion. For Best Results: Refer to the how-to for guidelines on removing peeling paint. Using a scraper or 100-grit sandpaper, remove any loose, cracked, or peeling paint from the damaged area.
Removing Paint with Heat
A heat gun or an infrared paint remover will heat up the paint so it peels effortlessly away from the wood. This is a great technique if you want to avoid sanding after scraping paint or if you don't want to use chemicals.
Zinsser Peel Stop 1-gal. Water Base Clear Interior/Exterior Binding Primer and Sealer (Case of 4) glues down peeling paint and bind chalky surfaces. Designed to seal cracked and checked surfaces for durability, it helps provide a sound surface.
It's best to scrape off peeling paint with something like a 5-in-1 tool, then go over the area with sandpaper. If you need to, use drywall compound or spackling to repair any holes, and sand the area again. Then, finish with primer and top coat.
The golden rule: prime your surface before you paint! A primer is the undercoat that seals your wall's surface and stops your paint from being absorbed by the masonry. It's also your first line of defence against many of the problems that cause peeling paint.
Worn out or no caulking in joints, corners, and openings, allowing moisture to enter. Ice-filled or clogged gutters, causing moisture build-up under the shingles. Interior moisture migrating through to the exterior walls. Painted surfaces that are too close to bare ground.
As a rule of thumb, you can stop scraping when the surface is no longer flaking. Remember, the paint must bond to the surface, and if that surface is loose and flaky, then the new paint has nothing to cling to. Be sure the surface is clear of loose paint chips and debris to get the best adhesion.
One way to tackle a project like this is to sand with 220 grit sandpaper, clean with denatured alcohol to remove grease then apply a coat of Zinsser Oil Cover Stain bonding primer to ensure maximum adhesion and bond. This will create sound a sound substrate for your finish coats and prevent peeling.
Peeling paint is never ideal. While homeowners may see peeling paint and realize they have to add painting the shutters or the bathroom walls to their to-do list, those looking to buy a home may have a bigger problem. That's because peeling paint could potentially cost them their mortgage.