Imagine that you are constructing your dream house with precise detailing, but you notice bubbles or blistering in the walls. Frustrating right? — but don’t worry, understanding paint bubbling can help prevent these conditions and maintain structural integrity. This blog will guide you in understanding the causes, fixing, and prevention techniques.
What is Paint Bubbling?
Paint bubbling is a visual defect that appears on the painted surface of the wall, causing a lifted or bubbled appearance, which affects the overall aesthetic look. Air and water filtration are two of the most common causes and can be treated or prevented completely using specialised techniques.
Causes of Paint Bubbling in Walls
Moisture/Humidity
Moisture and high humidity levels in the atmosphere are the most common reasons behind the formation of blisters or bubbles in walls. The leaks in roofs, windows, or plumbing cause water to become trapped on the inner surface of the paint, forming blisters. They are most commonly found in bathrooms, kitchens, and other ground-level structures.
Poor Surface Preparation
The wall surface should be properly cleaned to remove dirt, grease, or any contaminants, and ensure an even surface before painting. However, failing to clean, prime, or repair the wall could cause bubbles or peeling of the paint.
Poor Application
Poor painting application techniques, such as providing thick coating, painting in high humidity conditions, and not allowing sufficient drying time, could lead to moisture deposits beneath the surface, resulting in the formation of blisters.
Paint Quality
Using old or low-quality paints can have a significant impact on bonding with the wall surface, leading to the formation of blisters and the peeling of paint. Old paint might have degraded and lost its effectiveness, and poor-quality paints could have poor adhesion, leading to the formation of bubbles.
Temperature Fluctuations
Extreme temperature changes could cause expansion and contraction in walls, causing structural movements. These varying stress levels can lead to the formation of blisters in the walls due to poor adhesion.
How to Fix Bubbling Paint?
Determining the Cause
The first and crucial process is to locate and address the potential reasons for blisters. Leakages in roofs, windows, and plumbing pipes can be repaired. Ventilation can be improved in damp areas to reduce humidity. A damp-proof course can be installed to treat rising dampness.
Remove Blisters
The blisters in the paint should be carefully removed using a putty knife or paint scraper. The wall surface should be completely cleaned to remove all sorts of dirt, dust, grease, and weak paint surfaces.
Sanding
Sandpaper can be used to smoothen the rough edges and uneven surfaces to improve adhesion before applying a new paint coating.
Apply Primer
Apply high-quality primer that is specifically made for the particular wall surface to seal the surface properly, improving adhesion and ensuring a smooth and even finish.
Repainting
Apply high-quality paint that is suitable for the wall surfaces. The paint application should be a thin, even coating, allowing each coating to dry completely before applying the next. It is crucial to provide adequate ventilation during the drying process.
How to Prevent Paint from Bubbling?
Surface Preparation
Proper cleaning and preparation of walls is essential to prevent blistering in paints. The loose and peeled paints should be removed using a scraper or sandpaper, and mild detergent solutions can be used to remove contaminants.
Repairing Damage
Any cracks, holes, or imperfections in the wall surface should be addressed to prevent moisture infiltration and improve the surface for proper adhesion of paints.
High-Quality Paints
High-quality paints and primers that are specifically designed for the wall types should be used to ensure proper adhesion and durability. It helps maintain the structural integrity without causing any damage in the long run.
Proper Applications
Proper painting techniques under controlled environmental conditions should be implemented to minimise moisture-related issues. Painting under extreme weather conditions, such as under direct sunlight or during rainy seasons, should be avoided.
Ventilation
Providing adequate ventilation to the painted area can help improve the drying process and prevent moisture infiltration.
Conclusion
Spotting paint bubbles is a setback in maintaining structural integrity; however, it can be fixed by following the right approaches and can help keep the walls looking new for a long period. Surface preparation and choosing the right quality paints are the keys to preventing blisters. Following the guidelines and performing the suitable painting techniques can keep your wall surface smooth and hassle-free.
FAQs
Some typical causes of paint bubbling are moisture infiltration, poor surface preparation, temperature fluctuations, poor application, and ventilation.
Yes, bubbling can be fixed without repainting if the paint bubbles in your wall are small and their impact is very limited. It can be fixed with sanding, applying primer, and a little touch-up of matching paint.
Choosing the right paint is crucial to prevent bubbling in paint, and it can be determined by various factors.