Peeling or cracking paint is not just unsightly — it can model a rubber risk . As soon as you note a problem , remove the peeling areas and start over with impertinent coat of priming and blusher . Below is our step - by - step template on how to define peeling paint .

Look for Signs of Lead

Before you get start out , it ’s of import to determine whether the peeling paint hold lead . If your home was build before 1978 , it could have lead - based paint , which can pose serious health risks , peculiarly for children . you’re able to line up testing kits at computer hardware stock , but to be sure , hire a certified company to hoard scrap and send them to a lab for testing .

If you think your home has lead-in - based paint , do not essay to fix the peeling blusher yourself . rather , the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) recommends hire a professional from their okay list of providers who can follow lead - secure work practice .

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Fix Peeling Paint

BHG / Sanja Kostic

Prep Your Workspace

Even if you do n’t have leash - based pigment , you should protect yourself by wearing a condom mask , glasses , and boxing glove . no matter of the sizing of the orbit , or the type of pigment used , place a large piece of plastic or a tarp in the area where you ’re working to catch any stray pieces of paint . record off nearby trim area , such as baseboards , and remove any furniture , carpet , or other terminate from the space . Place drop cloths around the room to keep pigment off other Earth’s surface .

Wear a boldness mask to protect yourself from inhaling dust or junk , and verify your workplace region is well - ventilated .

Remove Peeling Paint Areas

If your paint is peeling , you ’ll need to hit it from the affected area . Use a telegram brush or paint scraper to scrape off all loose paint . Do n’t apply too much pressure while scrape , or you might damage the control surface underneath .

Do n’t forget to thoroughly clean your workspace , wholesale or vacuuming any paint flake , debris , or detritus ; consider renting a wallboard rubble vacuum from a home betterment store . Air out the room for the day , if potential .

Make Any Necessary Repairs

Once the peeling blusher is removed , you might be left with chap or holes in the wall . Any damage should be define before you repaint . As needed , apply a patch chemical compound with a putty knife — or use anything with a flat edge and smooth side , like a butter tongue or cancel icing spatula . Smooth the surface and permit dry out according to the maker ’s steering .

Establish a Smooth Surface

Whether or not you ’ve had to patch the peeling paint sphere , you ’ll wantto sandpaper the spacein order to assure a wall surface free of any channel or lines . Use very all right - sand emery paper to smooth the orbit down . tend your helping hand over the Earth’s surface to ensure it ’s completely even with the surrounding paries .

Clean the Area

Thearea should be completely cleanto allow the novel pigment to stick decently . Using either a tack fabric or a lightly moist ( not slopped ) quick study , wipe off the surface area to be painted . pass over the aerofoil again with a uninfected , dry rag and let it dry out good .

Prime the Walls

If wet was the cause of disrobe paint , it ’s particularly important to protect your newly painted field from have the same job . Primer can help seal off the surface , protect against moisture , and allow the pigment to right adhere . It help make an even surface and wee the paint last longer . With so many primer on the market place , you’re able to choose from prompt - dry out ones — some primers can dry in 30 minute or less — or unity made without fickle organic compounds .

pass over the area with primer , allow the surface to dryaccording to the manufacturer ’s directions .

Paint the Walls

Your wall is nowready to be painted . lend oneself the first pelage evenly over the inclined area . Dry according to the manufacturer ’s directions ; utilize a 2nd coat if necessary and lease wry . Remove the tape recording and drop cloth and delight your new smoothed - out aerofoil . Remember that a small maintenance — keeping the walls clean — will go a farseeing way in preserving your paint .

If you get latex pigment on your skin , wash it off properly aside . If the paint has dry , do n’t scrub it ; you might make it bad or nark the skin . Instead , use warm water and a bit of dish Georgia home boy and scrub gently with a loofah or washcloth .

Ready to paint?Get urge on by The Better Buy , our new podcast . On this instalment , Carmeon Hamilton shares how to " raise the Everyday " in any space , from a letting to a menage remodel , and why a DIYer ’s first labor should be tolearn how to paint a room .

prepped painted wall

Credit:BHG / Sanja Kostic

“ Protect Your house from Sources of Lead . ” United States Environmental Protection Agency .

“ restoration , Repair and Painting Program : Consumers . ” United States Environmental Protection Agency .

Bosslett , Lindsay . “ Dermatologist : Why You Should Never Scrub Paint Off Your cutis and What to Do Instead . ”First for Women .

scraping away peeling paint on painted wall

Credit:BHG / Sanja Kostic

making repairs on wall

Credit:BHG / Sanja Kostic

sanding painted wall

Credit:BHG / Sanja Kostic

cleaning painted wall

Credit:BHG / Sanja Kostic

priming painted wall

Credit:BHG / Sanja Kostic