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Peeling Paint Spots Article
Peeling Paint Spots?
from:Peeling paint spots are actually more common than you think. They often happen on the exterior of homes, but they can happen indoors if there is an area where there is moisture damage. Most of the time, the peeling paint is caused by moisture getting behind the paint, such as from the wood or other surface. This causes a blister to occur which eventually swells and breaks. This then exposes the area to the elements, leaving the paint virtually peeling off. Peeling paint may happen in just a small area, but because it is there, it can cause the entire area to look bad.
Find The Moisture
The first step in repairing peeling paint spots is to first find out where the moisture is coming from. If it is coming from a leaky gutter or overhang, have this fixed first, since it is likely affecting other areas of the wood as well. Once the moisture problem has been fixed, the area will need to fully dry out. This will allow it to "heal" the area.
Treat The Wood
The next step is fully remove the paint in the area. Usually the paint will need to come off in a radius of about a foot around the peeled area. Use a flat edge paint scraper or a putty knife to remove the paint as much as possible. You may also need to use a bit of sand paper or even a chemical solvent to remove as much of the paint in the area as possible. This is necessary since the entire area has likely been affected by the moisture build up from within.
Then, you need to seal the wood (if the surface is wood.) To do so, purchase a sealer from your home improvement store and apply to the area as directed by the product's manufacturer. This will require a few hours of drying, if not longer. It works to lock out any moisture from coming into the wood which would further cause more peeling paint. If you plant to redo the entire project, seal the entire section of wood.
Once this step is complete, you can then repaint the area. If you are only repainting the damaged area, you may need to blend colors enough so that the paint matches the existing color. It is often best to repaint the entire area to give it a more professional finish. If this is an outdoor project, such as the exterior of your home, you will want to ensure you are using exterior paint, which is less likely to fade or peel from moisture.
Peeling paint spots are often a problem on just sections of a home. If this is the case, it is a tell tale sign of a moisture problem. Do not do any painting until you have found and dealt with the moisture first. Then, allow the area to fully dry before attempting to seal and paint.