The practical answer.
Peeling means one layer has lost its bond. The failure may be between the new paint and the old coating, inside the previous coating system, or between the coating and the wall. Repainting without locating that weak layer usually repeats the failure.
Step by step
What to do
Map the failure
Check whether peeling occurs near floors, windows, ceilings, wet rooms, sun-facing walls or repaired patches. Location often points toward the cause.
Inspect the back of a flake
A clean back, powder, old paint or plaster attached to the flake can indicate where the bond failed. Do not rely on one flake alone.
Check for moisture
Leaks, rising damp, condensation and rain penetration can push coatings away from the substrate. Repair and verify the cause before recoating.
Check preparation
Dust, grease, chalking, soap residue, mould, salts and glossy unsanded paint can prevent adhesion.
Check system compatibility
The primer, previous coating and new topcoat must be compatible. Also review drying time, overcoating intervals and application conditions.
Remove the failed system
Scrape and sand back to a firm edge. If failure continues underneath, more of the old coating may need removal before rebuilding the system.
Prime and repaint correctly
Once the cause is fixed and the surface is sound, apply the specified primer and finish coats at the correct spreading rate and drying intervals.
Before you paint
Checklist
- Failure area mapped
- Moisture checked
- Loose coating fully removed
- Surface contamination removed
- Compatibility confirmed
- Correct primer applied
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Painting over the loose edges
- Blaming the newest paint without checking old layers
- Skipping moisture investigation
- Using excessive coat thickness to hide defects
