Causes of Fresh Paint Bubble On Wall – If you’re like most people, the sight of freshly painted bubbles on the wall drives you insane. You’ve scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail, and now that it’s dry, there is nothing you can do but look at these ugly, bubbled patches until they finally disappear. But what causes fresh paint to leave these unsightly marks?
It turns out that there are several reasons why your walls could be acting up so badly. Like you, the culprits may all be running around trying to figure out what’s happening. Here are the top 10 causes of fresh paint bubbles on walls and what you can do to fix them:
The most common mistake amateur painters make when painting walls is using too much paint. If you’re new to painting, or if you’ve been doing it all wrong, you can quickly end up with a lot of excess paint leftover, drying out and losing its strength. When this happens, the paint on the wall begins to separate into layers. The layer closest to the wall may still be wet and usable, but the one in between will suck up a lot of air while drying, causing bubbles. When this happens, the best thing to do is strip the finish back with sandpaper.
Another cause of fresh paint bubbles on the wall is premixed paint that wasn’t mixed thoroughly. If you’re using a brand of paint called “premixed” or “ready to use,” that’s not always the case. It often means that the manufacturer has mixed only part of the color, and they haven’t even bothered to finish mixing the rest, only adding water to make an original batch. It’s best to stick to brands that have gone through their mixing process three times before packaging.
Bubbles on walls are often caused by excessive airflow during painting, and when this happens, it’s best to reduce airflow minimally until the painting is completed. Keep the door and windows closed during the painting process, if possible. This can also be rectified by repainting a room before moving in.
You can reduce bubble formation on the walls when you paint them by using an appropriate surface for painters, like a primed, clean wall. If the wall is old or dirty, you will want to wash and sand it first to remove any surfaces that could potentially suck paint up during painting. If your paint is old and has lost its gloss, perhaps your walls need to be repainted, which means they’ll require a fresh coat of new paint and primer, as well as any other work you might have planned.
Excessive heat and humidity can cause paint to dry too quickly, which in turn causes the layers of color applied over time to separate and form bubbles. Paint bubbles on walls can also be caused by excessive moisture in the air, which may be caused by inadequate ventilation. Place a fan nearby to keep air circulating, or go outside and let it blow through the room for at least an hour before attempting to paint again.
Bubbling paint can also be caused by high humidity in the room where you’re painting, and this happens most frequently on rainy days when people are trying to get work done indoors. Keeping the windows open and using a dehumidifier is always a good idea to prevent this problem.
When painting, it’s best to have a slightly damp surface because you won’t want to absorb paint if you don’t use it. But if your walls have built so much soot that they’re pretty black, they will suck the color off the wall upon contact. First, sanding down the soot with drywall sandpaper should remove most of the dirt buildup.
When the paint is allowed to dry and then scratched or scraped again during maintenance or renovation, all of those layers of paint underlying each other will separate, forming bubbles on your walls.
Going from one color to another can also be a contributing factor. For example, if you’re going from white to bright red on your wall, it’s best to start with primer before putting on the red paint. The primer will act as an extra layer that prevents paint separation.
Sometimes, when a painter is looking for a particular color of paint and doesn’t have time to get it, they’ll add some of everything else they have. But sometimes, they don’t clean out all of the debris before applying the new color’s thinner coat over top of the previous paint job, which can cause bubbles on walls while drying.
Doing some research before you commit to a paint job is always a good idea. For example, if you want to paint the walls white, you might think that all white paints are the same. While it is true that all whites are indeed white, not all whites are necessarily suitable for any particular room or surface.
If your walls have been painted with latex paint in the past, using oil-based paint could result in bubbling as it dries. If you’re painting a very humid or warm room, using oil-based paint is also not recommended because it will dry too slowly, leaving even more time for bubbles to form.
When you sand a surface for the first time, it may take a few passes to make a good finish. But after the first couple of passes, your sandpaper is worn out and needs to be replaced, so you might remove more paint than you intended when you begin to sand. That’s why it’s best to use as little pressure as possible when sanding or polishing your walls.
If you’re painting walls as part of your home improvement project, you’ll want to ensure that they are adequately prepared before you begin. If a painter tells you that your walls require “tone on tone” or “full coverage,” it just might be why they have bubbles in the first place. Research and ask plenty of questions to avoid bubbling paint on your walls.