The Paint on My Exterior Wood Windows Is Peeling

Moisture

• Moisture wreaks havoc on wood and quickly works to deteriorate paint. When moisture is introduced to paint, paint loses its adhering properties, resulting in cracking and peeling. Primers are used to seal porous surfaces and give new paint coats an even area to cover. Use primer to avoid moisture problems and protect your wood windows.

Age of Paint

• Paint is not permanent. It lasts for years, but it does eventually expire. While new paint has a tremendous amount of adhesion, it does ultimately lose its sticking power, leading to paint peel. Older homes typically have a paint peel problem simply because of the age of the paint. Repairing old paint requires you to scrape off the old paint and apply primer before you can paint on the new color.

Age of Wood

• As with paint, wood also weakens over time and can no longer hold paint. Wood also rots, expands and contracts in certain weather conditions, flexing the paint with it. If the wrong wood is used on the windows, such as preprimed wood, it will cause the paint to peel. The only solution to this problem is to have the wood replaced with the proper exterior construction materials and repaint them with a high-quality exterior paint.

Low-quality Paint

• Low-quality paints are formulated with fewer pigments and binders than higher-quality ones. Low-quality paints also apply very thin, leaving only a slight layer of paint to protect the wood, adding to the risk of paint peeling. High-quality paint better resists moisture and is more durable than a low-quality brand. All old paint should be sanded or scraped away before you start applying any new coats of paint.

Unprepared Surface

• Dirt, moisture and porous surfaces are a toxic combination. They lead to premature paint failure, including paint peel. When paint is applied to dirt, the paint sticks to it instead of the surface, resulting in poor paint adhesion to the wood. Wood should be sanded and clean from dirt and any similar contaminants, then primed and painted to avoid future paint peel.