FOCUS OF THE DAY

FOCUS OF THE DAY

WORKOFARTPAINTING

Quote of the day:

“The more you engage with customers, the clearer things become and the easier it is to determine what you should be doing."

John Russell, President, Harley Davidson

Lifting Paint

Lifting paint can be best described as an underlying surface which appears as blisters or bubbles in the paint. Blistering (more commonly known as bubbling) is generally caused by heat, moisture or a combination of both.

Determining what exactly is the problem

First, determine if blistering was caused by moisture or heat. Break open and examine substrate and back side of blistered paint.

If only the newest coat of paint is blistered, the blister was caused by heat
If the peeled blister contains several coats of paint, and the bare surface is exposed, the blister was most likely caused by moisture

Repairing the problem

For blistering caused by heat: remove blisters by scraping, sanding or pressure washing down to underlying coats of paint of primer. Repaint the surface with high quality interior/exterior paint (ensure that the temperature is below 90 degrees F).

For blistering caused by moisture: repair loose caulking and improve ventilation of the building to prevent a recurring problem. Remove the blistering by sanding and scraping down to bare surface. Prime all bare areas with a high quality primer. Repaint area with high quality paint.

What may have caused the lifting paint problem

Painting in direct sunlight or on a surface that is too hot
Application of an oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp, wet surface
Exposing a fresh paint film to dew, high humidity or rain
Moisture passing through interior walls from common household sources, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, among other areas

Results if left untreated

If left untreated, lifting can eventually lead to peeling of the paint

For additional information, feel free to contact us at workofart@quest.net or by phone at (602) 268-1324.