You had your room painted recently, only to find bubbling or paint peeling off within weeks. If you think you are the only one who has had to put up with such a situation, you are mistaken. These paint problems are frustrating but common, often resulting from poor preparation, excess moisture, or the wrong paint being applied to the surface.
Today, painters in Wrexham will break down the causes of paint bubbling, the most common reasons for peeling, and how to fix them.
What Causes Bubbling and Peeling Paint on Walls
If moisture is trapped behind non-breathable paint films, the pressure forces the paint away from the wall. When water vapour fails to escape through your paint coating, it accumulates behind the film. As pressure builds, it overcomes the paint’s adhesion to the wall surface. Bubbles form first, and eventually the paint peels away in sheets.
Why Repainting is Not the Best Option
You may think that repainting the wall with your favourite colour will eliminate the problem, but it does not. That is because moisture is still present or entering the wall. As a result, the new coat of paint fails in the same way as the old one.
Your frustration returns, along with bubbling and peeling, because you did not fix the moisture source. You simply covered the surface with non-breathable paint again.
The problem hides in conventional masonry, which traps moisture inside the wall. As the vapour tries to escape, it builds pressure until adhesion fails and the paint is pushed off the surface. The cycle repeats itself, even with excellent preparation.
Why You Should Choose Breathable Paint over Non-Breathable Paint
Painters in Wrexham suggest using breathable coatings, as they allow water vapour to pass safely through the surface rather than trapping it. Breathable paint prevents pressure build-up, which is the ultimate cause of bubbling and peeling.
Vapour escapes through the breathable paint, breaking the failure chain and drying the wall as anticipated. This corresponds to the recommendations of BS 5250:2021 regarding the management of moisture within buildings and recommending the use of permeable materials.
How You Can Fix the Root Cause Before Painting
Unless you stop water ingress, no coating, breathable or otherwise, will perform well. You have to address all sources of moisture before applying any protective finish.
Identify the Source
Before you apply any kind of paint, you must stabilise moisture levels. That means confirming the wall is dry, fixing external defects, improving ventilation, and allowing enough time for the paint to dry.
Taking Care of Structural Issues
After identifying the moisture source, the next step is to fix the physical defects that allow water to enter or remain inside. To that end, you should check and address rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation. Only after eliminating these structural and environmental issues can you expect the new coat of paint to perform better than the previous one.
Going DIY is always an option, but it does not guarantee the best results. Unless you have years of experience in addressing masonry moisture and painting, hiring professional painters in Wrexham is your best bet. G.B Painting and Decorating is a company you can rely on with your eyes closed. With over a decade of experience, we deliver the highest quality standards in all our interior and exterior work. Our highly qualified and fully insured painters are committed to what we do. If you choose G.B Painting and Decorating, you can expect the best results because your property will be in the best hands.
Contact us today.