Textured Wall in the Garage Is Peeling When You Try to Paint

Remove any existing paint from the textured wall with a stiff nylon brush instead of a traditional paint scraper. Using a paint scraper removes the delicate texture, along with the primer and paint. Work the stiff nylon brush over the textured wall in overlapping circles to remove any chipping paint or spots before applying the new paint.

Clean the textured wall with a mixture of 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap and one-half gallon warm water. The soapy water will remove any dust, dirt and debris on the wall that keeps the paint from adhering effectively.

Remove any grease stains from the wall with a mixture of 1 tablespoon trisodium phosphate and 3 cups warm water. Stir the water, and slip on a pair of rubber gloves and a respirator before wiping the walls with a kitchen sponge and the trisodium phosphate mixture. Rinse the walls well with a separate damp kitchen sponge.

Check your garage foundation, walls, pipes and roofing for water leaks. Water leaks raise the humidity and moisture levels in the space, causing the paint to crack and peel. Seal cracks in the foundation with Portland or hydraulic cement, and replace damaged shingles if the issues are coming from the roof or foundation. Hire a plumber to locate and repair and broken pipes in the walls.

Run a dehumidifier to lower the garage humidity. Measure the relative humidity with a hygrometer, which is available at home-improvement and hardware stores. If the humidity is above 50 percent, run the dehumidifier to remove the excess moisture from the garage and keep the paint from peeling.

Apply a thin layer of clear binding primer to the walls before painting the garage. The primer resists peeling on both interior and exterior surfaces. Allow the primer to cure for at least two hours before you apply the paint.