What Causes Paint To Bubble and How To Prevent It

If you want to update your living spaces, a fresh coat of paint may be the transformation you seek. Although interior painting seems relatively simple, it’s a process that requires a certain level of experience and expertise to complete successfully. When inexperienced homeowners paint their walls and ceilings, the surfaces sometimes develop bubbles as the paint dries.

As skilled painters in Las Cruces, NM, our team at Engel Coatings Inc. knows what causes paint to bubble. Consult our post below to learn about the most common culprits behind this issue and what you can do to prevent it. 

What Are Paint Bubbles or Blisters?

Bubbling or blistering is a common paint-related blemish. The problem occurs due to something under the painted surface that is causing the paint to lift and distort.

The blistering will look like bumps or bubbles of various sizes and may affect the entire area or a small patch. In either case, the blemish will detract from the wall’s appearance. 

Realizing that bubbles are forming under paint is frustrating. It has a significant impact on the overall quality of the paint job. Leaving the blemishes alone can worsen their appearance and cause the paint to peel or crack over time. 

Common Causes of Paint Bubbling

What causes paint to bubble? The most common reasons include the following:

Dirty Substrates

Poor surface preparation can leave dirt, oils, and grime on walls. Painting over contaminated surfaces contributes to adhesion failure. In other words, dust and other substances can affect the paint’s ability to stick to the wall completely; affected areas will form blisters as the paint dries.

Not Using Primer or Incorrect Primer Use

A quality paint job includes primer, which is a bonding agent that helps paint stick to surfaces. Painted walls are less likely to bubble or peel on properly primed walls. Not using primer on porous surfaces creates subpar adhesion, especially on unpainted porous surfaces. 

Moisture Intrusion

Water is one of the primary reasons paint sometimes forms bubbles. As moisture penetrates the layers of paint, each one will detach from the surface, leading to bubbling. 

High Humidity Levels

If moisture intrusion is a problem when painting interior and exterior surfaces, so is high humidity. When painting indoors, ensure your rooms have sufficient ventilation. Stuffy interiors can allow humidity levels to increase, which raises the chances of water intrusion and bubbling in the drying paint.

High Temperature

Temperature fluctuations can affect the drying time for paint. Yet, if the space gets too hot, it could accelerate the drying process, causing bubbles to form. The solvents and water inside the paint need enough time to evaporate so that the paint dries smoothly and sticks to the surface. 

Incompatibility

Sometimes, the proper primer application, surface preparation, and paint application aren’t enough to prevent bubbling. Some materials react poorly to certain paints. 

For instance, new wood may have natural oils that prevent proper paint adhesion. Adhesion is also a problem for glossy surfaces. 

How To Avoid Peeling or Blistering Paint

Now that you know what causes paint to bubble, you may wonder whether hiring a professional is necessary. Hiring expert painters can prevent the frustration of a low-quality paint job. However, if you want to handle the task yourself while avoiding blistering paint, follow these tips:

• Prepare the surface: The surface of whatever you paint must be clean and dry before applying the product. Take the time to remove loose paint and wash the surface wth a mild detergent before rinsing it.
• Stir the paint slowly: Before applying paint, stir it slowly and thoroughly to avoid introducing air bubbles to the paint, as these can contribute to bubbling during the drying process. 
• Gradually apply paint with a roller: When applying paint to walls with a roller, ensure a gradual rolling motion and even pressure. This method will help prevent air pockets from forming beneath the paint film. 
• Don’t put oil-based paint over latex paint: Adhesion failure is likely when applying oil-based paint on latex-painted surfaces. When switching paint types, use primer to improve compatibility between the wall and the new paint.
• Avoid painting in humid conditions: Since humidity plays a major role in drying paint, ensure the air in your workspace is relatively dry before you begin painting. 
• Let the paint dry between layers: By doing this, you reduce the risk of blisters forming between each coat. 

How To Fix Paint Blisters

Even the most prepared painters sometimes get bubbles and blisters in their work. If this happens to you, stay calm. It may be possible to fix the problem without starting over entirely.

Start the restoration process by examining the blemishes. If the bubbling doesn’t appear to go all the way down to the substrate, wait until the paint dries. Then, scrape and sand down the affected area to remove the bubbles. 

After sanding the area, ensure that it has a smooth finish. Next, apply a coat of primer, followed by a high-quality paint. 

Let’s say the blisters reach the substrate. In that case, you would have to eliminate the source of the moisture that’s affecting the paint job. Depending on the source of the water, you may address it by increasing ventilation in the room or repairing loose caulking that may contribute to water intrusion. 

Try to repair the bubbled wall only after removing the source of the moisture. Otherwise, the problem may occur again. Follow the previous sanding, priming, and painting steps to restore your wall’s appearance. Applying several layers of paint may be necessary to achieve your desired effect. 

Get Perfectly Painted Surfaces With Help From Engel Coatings Inc.

Knowing what causes paint to bubble is a great way to minimize complications with a do-it-yourself home painting project. However, professional interior and exterior painting solutions are ideal if you want to avoid problems like blistering or peeling paint. 

Engel Coatings Inc. is one of the leading painting contractors serving Las Cruces, New Mexico. Contact our professionals at (575) 642-5481 to request a free estimate and start your painting project today.