13 October 2017
 Categories: , Blog

Oh, the frustrations of having something go wrong with a home improvement project just as you have finished it. Paint blistering is just one example of improvement mishaps that could have been prevented with a little know-how. Fortunately, if you act quickly, you won't have to repaint the entire exterior of your home to undo the damage that has been done. This is not the repair you want to put off or the fresh paint of the repair will be a different color from the original shade. Here, you will learn a little about why paint blisters and what you need to do to fix it.

Why does exterior paint blister?

Typically, one of four things will have caused your paint to blister, including:

1. The Wrong Kind of Paint – If the paint you are painting over is latex and you use oil based paint, you will soon see blistering, peeling and cracking. You can only paint latex over latex, however; you can paint latex over oil. If you want to paint oil over latex, you will need to first apply a coat of primer made to help the oil adhere to the latex paint.
2. Moisture – If the surface you are painting is damp from rain or dew before you start painting, you will run into blistering issues. You must allow enough time for the surface you are painting to dry completely to avoid trapping moisture under the paint and suffering the repercussions of paint blisters.
3. Humidity Levels – If the air is too moist, you should avoid painting. Wait for a day in which the weather forecasters are calling for low humidity levels. If you paint on a humid day, the end result will be blistering due to the moisture that is in the surface that you are painting and the paint's inability to dry quickly.
4. Dirt – If the surface you are painting hasn't been completely cleaned, you could see blisters appear as it dries. This is due to the contaminants allowing for air to be trapped under the fresh paint. Pressure wash the surface a day or two before you plan to paint to make sure that the surface is clean and dry as the first stroke of paint is applied.

How are paint blisters repaired?

• First, you will have to scrape off the blistered paint. Do this using a plastic putty knife.
• Next, sand the area to create a smooth surface. This is so you won't see where the old paint meets the new.
• Now, clean the surface well and allow it to fully dry.
• Lastly, apply the fresh paint to the area feathering it out into the old paint to make it blend in.

If you are uncomfortable taking on this type of repair, talk with a company like Puget Sound Quality Coatings LLC for assistance.