Frequently Asked Questions About Interior Paint Damage

Homes usually outlive the interior and exterior paint that covers them. Accumulated damage can cause your interiors to look faded, bubbly, or otherwise unattractive compared to their original state. This damage may develop over many years, or it may occur all of a sudden due to some acute issue.

If you have never had to deal with Pittsburgh interior paint damage before, you may not know how it occurs, what you can do about it, or how to keep it from recurring. Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions about interior paint damage.

Why Does Interior Paint Damage Occur?

Paint damage takes different forms, each of which may point toward a different underlying cause. One common kind of paint damage involves the development of thin cracks that spread out in vein-like patterns across a painted surface. This problem indicates that the original painter failed to prepare the surface correctly.

Peeling is another fairly common problem in interior paint jobs. This symptom usually indicates unwanted moisture in the substrate beneath the paint. This moisture could come from interior leaks, gutter clogs that send moisture into the home, or excessive humidity. Moisture can also make paint blister or bubble.

A white appearance on interior paint may indicate either efflorescence (minerals leaching into the paint) or chalking (a side effect of UV exposure). A wrinkled effect known as alligatoring may occur due to temperature fluctuations that expand and contract the paint. Alligatoring can lead to cracking over time.

When Should You Consider Repainting Your Home’s Interior?

Any of the problems noted above merit professional attention from professional painters. However, you may need to repaint your home’s interior periodically to avoid or correct age-related deterioration. A typical paint job may last for several years if performed correctly, but eventually the paint will fail.

Several coats of paint applied over older layers can eventually produce damage. The sheer weight and bulk of these multiple layers can stress the paint until it begins to pull away from the surface. Take this as your cue to have all the old paint removed and a fresh new coat applied directly to the substrate.

Oddly enough, new homes often require a fresh coat of paint as well. Many modern homes receive substandard paint jobs from the builders. If you have just moved into a newly constructed home, you may want to have it repainted with your first few years of residence to head off any potential problems.

Don’t assume that you can simply patch an isolated area of damage instead of repainting the whole surface. Even if you manage to find the exact same type and color of paint, the fresh paint probably won’t match the aged paint on the rest of the wall. You may get more uniform results by having the entire surface repainted.

How Do Professional Painters Replace a Damaged Paint Job?

Professional painters will examine a paint failure carefully. If the problem covers a large area, doesn’t lend itself to a spot correction, or suggests additional trouble lurking under undamaged paint, they will likely recommend a repaint of the entire wall or ceiling.

After carefully scraping away the original paint, the painters will clean the substrate thoroughly and then (in most cases) apply primer. The primer gives the actual paint a smoother, more even surface. The painters will apply multiple coats of paint, letting each coat dry before proceeding with the next one.

How Can You Prevent or Minimize Future Interior Paint Damage?

While paint deterioration will inevitably occur, you can delay its onset through some preventive measures. If you want to avoid UV-related chalking and fading, for example, curtains can keep much of this undesirable radiation away from painted surfaces.

Careful moisture and temperature control can help prevent some paint issues. Replace old caulk, get any water leaks fixed, and keep your HVAC system in good shape so it can dry and cool your home’s air. However, don’t let your air get too dry, a situation which can cause cracking.

If your interior paint job has lost its looks, Fagan Painting LLC can restore it to its former beauty. Contact us today to tell us about your Pittsburgh interior paint damage problem and book our services.