Rid Peeling Surface of Moisture Problem Before new Paint Job

When excess moisture is trapped in a home, it often manifests itself in a rash of blistering, cracking and peeling paint.

Smothered under a fresh coat of color, Country Home magazine says, even small amounts of moisture can cause wood to swell and break the adhesion of the bottom layer. Hence, beautifully painted walls, ceilings and other surfaces quickly transform into ragged skins.

There is no sense in repainting a damaged surface until moisture problems have been solved. The first step in treating peeling paint is to locate and remove sources of moisture.

Install exhaust fans and vents to remove excess interior moisture from bathrooms. Check for leaky plumbing or disconnected dryer exhaust pipes. Keep moisture from entering the home from the outside by correcting the following conditions.

--Faulty Flashing.

--Leaking gutters.

--Defective roof shingles.

--Deteriorated caulking in joints and seams

--Shrubbery growing too close to painted wood.

After the moisture problems have been solved, allow the home to dry out thoroughly. Once dry, the damaged paint should be scraped off. The the surface can be repainted.

If working with a historically significant structure, keep a small sample of the original paint. Cover a small area with a metal plate or mark it in some way so that future investigators will have a record of the building’s paint history.