Preventing Paint Peel
Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-924 -- More Projects »
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Before repainting a surface, remove all the loose chipped and bubbled paint with a scraper or wire brush. Smooth the scraped surface with sandpaper.
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Home-repair expert Morris Carey explains how to avoid cracked and peeling paint for your next interior or exterior painting project.
- The main reason paint peels is the presence of moisture. The next culprit is an unprepared surface that contains dirt and grease. The last is paint incompatibility, which is what happens when painting over an oil-based paint with latex paint.
To test an existing painted surface to know if oil or latex paint was used, dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub the surface. If paint comes off on the cotton ball (figure A), latex paint was used. Use the same kind of paint on top of the paint you just tested.Always use a high-quality paint. It should last about 10 years, while cheaper paint typically lasts only three years.
Find out if your paint is of high quality with this test: Put a dollop of a quality paint next to a dollop of inexpensive paint on a board. Add one drop of food coloring to each type of paint. Tilt the board to see what happens to the food coloring. If it mottles like paint B on the right (figure B), that means you should choose a better-grade paint. Another way to test the quality of paint is to simply dip your finger in it. If it is glossy and smooth, it is good. If it is gritty and dirty, then it is lower quality. Generally, the more expensive a paint is, the better it is.Good tools are critical. Cheap paintbrushes will likely leave bristles in the paint, and cheap rollers can leave behind fibers.Clean all your tools before using them. Before painting with a roller, for example, remove any excess fiber with a piece of masking tape (the same way you clean pet hairs off of clothing.)Always prime raw wood. Do not skip this step, as it creates a bond between the wood and the paint.Clean your surface before painting with a solution of TSP and then a coat of liquid sandpaper.
Guests Morris Carey
Home-Repair Expert
1503 Norine Dr.
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Phone: 925-432-7141
Cellphone: 925-766-0180
E-mail:
moris@onthehouse.com Also in this Episode
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