Latex Paint Problems

Lapping

• Lapping is a common mistake for novice painters and happens when you paint over a dry edge. A higher gloss or deeper color appears in the overlapping wet and dry areas. Avoid this problem by keeping your edges wet and working until you meet a break in the wall, such as at the end of a wall, or until you reach some trim work. Use of high-quality paints, with their higher pigment and binder formulas, can also help you avoid the pitfalls of dry edges.

Blistering

• Blistering occurs when paint no longer adheres to the surface and forms a bubble. Blisters can result from moisture. Moisture gets into surfaces easily when a primer is not used. Primer seals porous surfaces and helps protect surfaces from moisture, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Moisture also creeps into surfaces from other sources, such as a leaky roof or sink, where water seeps into ceilings or drips down walls. Protect your paint from moisture by always using a primer and by repairing damaged roofs and leaky pipes. If moisture is not your problem, it is most likely the result of an unprepared surface, where unwashed surfaces keep paint from properly sticking. Drywall dust and kitchen grease should be washed away before you paint.

Crackling and Flaking

• Crackling and flaking normally occur from age. After time, paint loses its adhering properties and starts to crack. Cracks lead to air and moisture getting under the paint, further deteriorating it, which leads to flakes. It may also occur from applying too thin a paint layer or using inferior paint. To fix cracked and flaking paint, scrape the loose area with a wire brush, and use spackling to level the surface, if necessary.

Blocking

• If your newly painted doors and windows are sticking, it may be the result of blocking. Blocking occurs when paint is not fully dry and two surfaces stick together, such as a door sticking to the jamb or drawers to a dresser front. Even when paint feels dry to the surface, it is still soft and pliable and needs proper time to dry. Before moving any painted areas, make sure they are fully dry. Read the manufacturer’s directions for proper drying times, and avoid low-quality paints.