It’s a great feeling to see your first painting project turn into a big success. However, it isn’t easy to get everything right on the first attempt, and wall painting is one of those projects that can go wrong fast. If you have ever undertaken a DIY project to paint your home, or even as a professional painter, you would have encountered a few problems. In this article, we will cover some of the most common concerns faced during or after painting and their solutions. Let’s see how to fix paint problems.
10 Common Painting Problems and Their Solutions
Following are the 10 common painting problems that you might encounter. We have also listed the solutions to the problems faced during painting:
- Applying the Wrong Colour
- Inappropriate Sheen
- Sticky Paint on Wooden Objects
- The Primer is Not Drying
- Insufficient Paint
- Sagging Paint
- Cracking
- Flaking
- Exterior Paintwork Surfaces That are Powdery or Chalky
- Fungal Mould
01. Applying the Wrong Colour
After finalising the colour scheme, performing the sampling process, and painting the wall, sometimes you don’t get the desired colour. So, if you dislike the colour after you paint the wall, there are not many options at hand but to repaint the room in the colour of your choice. If the colour is paler or lighter than you expected, you can apply a darker glaze with colour-washing or ragging techniques. It will tone down the colour of the base coat, which will still shine through the transparent glaze.
If your base coat is too dark, try sponging lighter-coloured paint on top. It will tone down the dark colour, and give you an overall effect, which is mottled and lighter. When sponging, you can use more than one colour, but if you use two or more colours, apply the lightest colour at the end.
02. Inappropriate Sheen
Inappropriate sheen is also one of the major painting problems that bothers the owners. There is also an easy fix for painted walls that are too shiny or don’t have enough shine. If you want a shiny look, you can buy some latex glaze with a gloss or eggshell finish and apply one coat to the painted wall.
If you want to tone down the sheen of your paint, you can buy a latex glaze with a flat finish. Latex glaze looks like milk before application, but there is no need to worry as it becomes clear as it dries.
03. Sticky Paint on Wooden Objects
One of the most common painting problems is sticky paint, especially on wooden objects. Oil-based paint can often stay wet or dry with a waxy or sticky feel, even with careful preparation. Be sure to apply a primer, especially if you are painting a wooden surface, as it smoothens the surface and helps the top coat of paint dry completely. In case you have accidentally skipped the primer, wash off the paint with mineral spirits and steel wool and prime the surface before repainting.
If the paint takes too long to dry and has a sticky feel, it may mean that the coat of paint is too thick. If there is more than one coat of paint, the top layer is drying while locking in the moisture of the lower layers. Leave the painted surface alone for about a week, if possible, to see if it dries. If it does, it means you have solved the problem. If it doesn’t dry, scrape off the paint, wash the wood with mineral spirits and steel wool, and repaint the object.
04. The Primer is Not Drying
It is a rare problem. This issue usually occurs when you apply a thick coat of primer to the surface. When coating a surface with primer, you must always lay a thin layer so that the wall or wood will soak it in and result in a smooth and even surface ready for the top coat.
Damp environments can also cause primers to dry slowly. You can solve this problem by heating the room with dry heat, unless this is an exterior painting concern. If the primer still doesn’t dry, scrape it off and reapply.
05. Insufficient Paint
Insufficient paint can be one of the most troublesome painting problems, especially if you have mixed the colour yourself. If you see in time that you are running out of paint, you can dilute it with the appropriate thinner and make it last longer. Ensure to use every drop of paint on your rollers and brushes instead of washing them and wasting paint.
If you are using a colour bought from the store, and you only have a small area to cover, buy a small tester pot of latex paint when you run out of paint. If you mixed the colour yourself and can’t replicate it, use a harmonising shade or colour on the remaining sections.
06. Sagging Paint
Sagging paint occurs when the coat of paint is too thick or the subsequent coats were applied before the previous coat had a chance to dry completely. This results in a rundown of paint on the wall, says Yavuz Alkan (author of book Wall Painting Details).
The way to solve such a painting problem is to allow the paint to dry completely and rub the bumps down with wet-and-dry sandpaper till they are smooth. Use wet sandpaper for the best results. Once you sand down the sag, paint the treated areas with the same number of coats as the rest of the surface. We can avoid sagging paint defects in a few ways, like cleaning the surface before applying paint, giving the paint more time to dry etc.
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07. Cracking
You will see cracking when the paint has inadequate adhesion, and the elasticity of the varnish or paint applied is different from that of the base coat, and it doesn’t cure properly. If you use paints from two different brands, they can react with each other and cause cracking.
To repair cracked paint, you can sand down the varnish or paint once it has fully dried. Repainting the surface is the next stage.
Here’s a video to sum up all the points mentioned above & below:
08. Flaking
The primary causes of paint flaking are moisture under the coat, paint placed over oil, dirt, or grease, or paint applied to a surface that has been improperly prepared and is powdery. This problem means that the paint is resisting the surface. It happens when you coat oil-based paints with water-based paints, like latex.
If the problem occurs over a large area, you must buy oil-based paints. If the issue occurs in a smaller region, you can solve it by washing the surface and removing any grease with detergent and a light scouring pad. You will have to buy oil-based paints if the challenge persists; otherwise, the paint film will detach from the underlying surface in the form of flakes or scales. Paint peeling is yet another common painting problem. To know how to fix it, you must go through our blog.
09. Exterior Paintwork Surfaces That are Powdery or Chalky
This is one of the most common painting problems, often caused by weathering or signs that salts are breaking off from the surface. This is a result of the primer having insufficient oil. The solution to such a painting problem is applying a coat of primer after cleaning the affected area with a sharp-bristled brush. Chalking is not something you will like in your home. Apply paint at the right spreading rate, using enough oil in the primer.
10. Fungal Mould
Fungal mould or mildew are the black, green, and brown spores that are seen on the surface of walls. They indicate moisture, water leaks, or poor ventilation. They occur when the paint is of poor quality and has no anti-fungal protection. Lack of sunlight and poor paint quality may promote the growth of mould.
In order to solve such an interior paint problem, fix the source first if the issue is leakage. Clean the area with white vinegar to kill the spores. Clear the area of all mould, scrub it, and allow it to completely dry. Apply an oil-based paint coat and a stain-blocking primer. To prevent future mould issues, make sure that the area receives enough sunlight.
In Conclusion,
These are some of the most common problems that you will encounter during or after your painting project. Always take the necessary precautions and get familiar with the materials and surfaces before undertaking such projects. Use only high-quality paint for any type of repainting or new painting project. Knowing what problems to expect and how to avoid them will save you time, efforts, and money. Now that you are aware of how to fix paint problems and have solutions to common painting problems, resolve all your painting issues like a pro.
Also read
9 Common Painting Mistakes That Can Harm Your Elegant Walls!
17 Important Painting Tips | Know Before Painting a Home!
20 Different Types of Paints for Interior & Exterior Surfaces!
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Author Bio
Andrea Noronha – Andrea Noronha is a content writer and editor with over 4 years of experience. Although she comes from a finance background, Andrea is passionate about blogging about interior design. Her other interests include travelling, baking, and digital marketing.
