Bubbled paint means that there is an issue with the bond between the coating and the wall. It can occur with both newly applied and old paint. Old paint usually bubbles when it gets wet somehow. In this article we share how to fix bubbled paint on walls.
A Painter will more often find this problem with latex paints than with oil or alkyd paints, say the experts at Attentive.
What is Paint Bubbling?
Paint bubbling also referred to as blistering, is caused when the paint loses its adhesion with the base coat or substrate.
A substrate is an underlying surface such as plaster, drywall, or wood.
In the place where the paint pulls away, water-filled or air-filled bubbles will form.
As they dry, these bubbles may pop or deflate.
Some may even get hard.
Causes of Bubbling
There are many reasons why the bonding between the paint and the underlying surface fails.
Some of the common causes of bubbled paint on walls can be as follows:
- Water, oil, dust, or other contaminants may be covering the wall.
- Moisture in drywall, concrete, plaster, or wood.
- An underlying paint coat was applied over a contaminated surface.
- Not applying primer to the surface.
- Failing to sand slick and shiny surfaces.
- Not removing joint compound dust when repairing walls.
Bubbling can also occur if the painting surface was too hot at the time of application.
For example, painting in direct sunlight.
The use of the wrong roller cover can also cause it.
You may want to invest in a paint sprayer.
You can find more articles about paint sprayers at The Tool Geeks.
Applying alkyd or oil-based paint over a damp or wet surface can also cause it.
When painting outdoors, care should be taken that the fresh paint film is not exposed to rain, dew, or high levels of humidity.
This is a more common occurrence around kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
These rooms have sources of moisture and it can pass through the interior walls to cause paint bubbling.
How to Fix Bubbled Paint?
Before you fix this issue, you will have to determine the cause. This will require breaking open and checking the substrate and the backside of the bubbled paint:
- If only the latest coat of paint was blistered, it may mean that heat was the cause.
- If the bubbled paint has multiple coats and the surface is exposed, moisture could be the culprit.
Heat-Caused Bubbling
If paint bubbling is caused by heat, you should take the following steps:
- Remove the blisters through sanding, scraping, or pressure washing. Remove the layer to the underlying coat of primer or paint.
- Repaint using high-quality paint. The paint should be applied at a surface temperature of fewer than 90 degrees.
Moisture-Caused Bubbling
If the bubbling is caused by moisture, you should take the following steps:
- Repair any loose caulking and enhance the ventilation of your building.
- Use sanding or scraping to remove the blisters.
- Apply high-quality primer on all the bare surfaces.
- Repaint using high-quality paint.
These steps should help you overcome the problem and prevent it from repeating.
The next time you paint a surface, make sure to address the above-mentioned causes before applying the coating.
It will be best to get the job done right the first time.
Getting help from Commercial Painters can help ensure that all the right steps are followed.