Peeling Paint? 5 Causes and How to Fix It for Good

You notice a patch of paint curling off the wall, or a bubble on the ceiling that wasn't there last month. Repainting right over it does not work, because the paint peels again in weeks. Paint peels because something stops it from sticking: water behind it, dirt or gloss under it, or paint that was put on wrong.

One question tells you a lot: is the problem in a damp place, like a bathroom, a kitchen ceiling or an outside wall, or on a dry wall? Damp places mean moisture, so find the water before you touch a brush. Dry walls usually mean preparation or the wrong paint.

Start With These 30-Second Checks

1. 1On a ceiling, do not press a bubble that looks swollen or full of water. If the ceiling is wet, sagging or near a light, turn off the breaker for that room first, stay out from under it, and call a professional.
2. 2Check the age of the house. Built before 1978? Read the lead warning above before you scrape anything.
3. 3On a wall, press the bubble gently with a finger. Soft and wet means water behind the paint. Dry and hollow means poor adhesion.
4. 4Look for a brown ring or stain around the bubble. A stain means a leak, now or in the past.
5. 5Check the room above or the wall outside for a leak, a drip or a stained pipe.
6. 6Do not touch a light fixture on a wet ceiling.

1. Moisture Behind the Paint

This is the cause most readers have, especially with ceilings and bathroom walls. Water gets behind the paint and pushes it off. The water may come from a leak, from steam, or from a wall that stays cold and damp.

1. 1Find the source before you repair anything. Look at the plumbing above the ceiling, the shower, the roof, or the window next to the wall.
2. 2If the source sounds familiar, see shower leaking or water in the basement.
3. 3Stop the water, then let the area dry for several days. A fan and an open window help.
4. 4A bathroom needs an exhaust fan that runs during and for about 20 minutes after each shower.
5. 5If the wall or ceiling stays wet after you stopped the source, or the drywall is soft, call a professional.

2. Mold on the Wall or Ceiling

Peeling paint in a damp room often goes with dark or fuzzy patches. That is mold growing under or in the paint. Painting over mold hides it, and it comes back.

1. 1Wear an N95 mask, gloves and eye protection, and ventilate the room.
2. 2Clean small patches (less than about 10 square feet) with soap and water, then dry the area fully. Do not mix cleaning products. Never use bleach and ammonia or bleach and vinegar together.
3. 3If the mold patch is bigger than about 10 square feet, covers drywall that is soft or wet, or came back after cleaning, call a mold professional.
4. 4Fix the moisture source before you prime. Without that, the mold returns.

3. Dirty, Glossy or Unprimed Surface

Paint grips a clean, slightly rough surface. Dust, grease, soap film or a glossy old finish give it nothing to hold on to, and it peels in sheets. This is common in kitchens and on trim.

1. 1Scrape off all loose paint with a putty knife until the edge is firm. Start only after the lead check above.
2. 2Wash the wall with warm water and dish soap, rinse and let it dry completely.
3. 3After the lead check, sand glossy areas lightly so they feel dull, and feather the edges of the bare spot so there is no ridge. Wear an N95 mask and wipe up the dust.
4. 4Prime bare patches with a stain-blocking primer such as KILZ 2, then paint. Primer is the step most people skip.

4. Wrong Paint or Painting Too Soon

Latex paint over an oil-based coat, or a second coat put on before the first was dry, does not bond. Cold or humid weather also stops paint from curing, particularly outside.

1. 1Check the label on the old paint if you can. Oil-based under latex needs primer in between.
2. 2Follow the recoat time on the can, and don't paint when the room is damp or the wall is cold.
3. 3Use paint made for the room: kitchen and bath paint resists moisture better than plain wall paint.
4. 4Thin coats stick better than thick ones. Two thin coats beat one heavy coat.

5. Old Paint Failing

Paint that is 15 or 20 years old on a wall that has moved with the seasons simply wears out. Flaking over a large area, often on window frames and exterior walls, is age rather than a single mistake.

1. 1Test for lead first if the house was built before 1978, and do not scrape or dry sand until the result is back.
2. 2Scrape what is loose and sand the edges smooth. Repair cracks and holes with filler and let it dry.
3. 3Prime the whole bare area, not just the spot, so the new coat dries evenly.
4. 4Paint the full wall, corner to corner, so you do not see a patch.

When to Call a Pro

Painting is a good owner job. Water, mold and lead are not. Call a professional when the paint is only the symptom.

1. 1The ceiling is wet, sagging or holding a bubble full of water. Keep clear and turn off the breaker for that room's lights and outlets.
2. 2Mold covers a large area or comes back.
3. 3A lead test is positive.
4. 4A pro painter typically charges about $2 to $6 per square foot (HomeAdvisor), more if they have to fix the surface first.