Tired of Seeing Bubbling Paint?

You painted 2 weeks ago and now you've found bubbling paint! What to do?

Bubbling paint is caused by a loss of adhesion. Among the possible causes are:

• Oil-based or alkyd paint that was applied over a damp area.
• Moisture seeping into the home through the walls.
• Inadequate surface preparation and exposure of latex paint film to high humidity or moisture shortly after paint dried.

Here's what to do:

• For minor cases -- remove blisters by scraping, and sanding, then repaint with an acrylic latex interior paint.
• For more serious cases, where bubbles go down to the substrate -- Remove the source of moisture; repair loose caulking; and consider installing an exhaust fan.
• Repair as noted above and use a good primer before applying the top coat.

Help for Messy Paint Cans

If you think you'll be storing part of a paint can for awhile, close the lid tightly and turn the can upside down for a few seconds. This seals any cracks between the lid and the can, reducing the chance of getting that sticky film around the edges.