What is blistering?
Lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface, which appears as bubbles or blisters in the paint, usually caused by heat, moisture or a combination of both. This condition can eventually lead to peeling of the paint if not corrected.
CAUSES
- 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.
Determine if blisters were caused by heat or moisture. Break open and examine the substrate and back side of the blistered pain.
- If only the newest coat of paint is blistered, the blistering was probably caused by heat.
- If the peeling blister contains several coats of paint and the bare surface is exposed, the blister was probably caused by moisture.
SOLUTION
For heat-induced blistering
- Remove the blisters by scraping, sanding or pressure-washing down to underlying coats of paint or primer.
- Repaint the surface with a high-quality interior/exterior paint (make sure the surface temperature is below 90 degrees F.
For moisture-induced blistering
- Repair loose caulking and improve ventilation of the building to prevent a recurring problem.
- Remove the blisters by scraping or sanding down to the bare surface.
- Prime all bare areas with a high-quality primer.
- Repaint the surface with a high-quality paint in the desired finish.
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Lindsey Bynum
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