How to fix peeling paint on walls?

[jab89]

The paint started peeling on one of the walls in my living room in my unit - I had a clock attached to the wall on a 3M hook and it fell off one night and the paint bubbled up behind it and I just started peeling more and more of the paint off.

it’s coming off in massive strips - not dry/flaky like a lot of the photos I’ve seen online - it’s chunky thick big strips. 

how do I repaint the wall? Do I have to strip back the whole wall? I put up some 3M hooks on another wall to hang pictures and then had to move the hook and the paint bubbles up there slightly too. Is it likely a problem the whole way through the unit?

the bare plaster (is it plaster?? What is the surface of the bare wall? How do I work that out?) is all cracked. Is that a potential structural problem I need fixed?

I feel like I can now see tiny little mold spots on the bare plaster that weren’t there when the paint first came off about a month ago. Located in Brisbane for reference.

I’m not actually sure what is behind the wall…I think it might be pipes…my toilet is on the other side but there’s a closed off bit so the toilet isn’t directly behind - there’s obviously a little closed off room I can’t access.

any help with how to repaint and fix would be greatly appreciated. Or even what type of professional to call?

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @jab89,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

You are looking at bare plaster. If you rub your hand over the plaster, it will feel chalky and will likely leave white powder on your hand. 

Peeling like you are seeing is typical with softer paints such as acrylic latex paints. These paints are flexible and commonly used for internal walls. Flaking is typical with harder paints such as oil-based paints.

Luckily, these don't look like structural cracks which tend to be much wider and would be visible in other areas, particularly the corners of the room and on the ceiling. I suspect moisture could be the cause of both the cracking and the peeling paint. 

Ensuring there isn't a leak in the wall is our first step. Does the plaster feel damp or cold in comparison to surrounding areas? You can use a moisture meter to confirm, but if it feels damp you probably don't need to check with a moisture meter. If damp, your best course of action is to contact a leak detection company or a plumber who specialises in leak detection and rectification.

If there is indeed a leak, this would need to be rectified before we move on, and you may need to replace the plasterboard.

If you find there is no leak, the process of repainting the wall is fairly simple. Continue to remove any loose paint until you find paint that is well adhered. Ensure you keep some of the peeled paint so you can colour-match it in-store.

Pick up some Dulux 1Step Prep Primer, Sealer & Undercoat, your colour-matched interior paint, a drop sheet, a roller kit and a sanding sponge.

Give the sharp edges between your old paint and the bare plaster a light sand with your sanding sponge. You're aiming to dull the transition between the old and the new which can show through if this step is skipped.

Apply a coat of your primer then allow it to dry for 2 hours. After two hours, apply a coat of your interior paint. Wait another two hours for this coat to dry then apply a second coat.

Check out How To Prepare A Wall For Painting and How To Paint A Room for some guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[jab89]

Thank you Jacob - this is very helpful. I’ll grab a moisture meter just in case as the paint is peeling off the entire wall - it’s not just a small location. Is it possible that the paint peels off multiple walls and this is normal? Is there anything I can use that makes it quicker to peel off entire walls?

[JacobZ]

Hi @jab89,

It's not normal for the paint to be peeling off your walls in multiple places. It's possible that it's peeling because the incorrect paint was used for bare plaster surfaces. Typically, you would use an undercoat such as Dulux 1Step Prep Primer, Sealer & Undercoat before painting to ensure the paint sticks to the bare plaster.

As it looks like the paint has not bonded well to the surface beneath and is coming off in sheets, you'll likely be able to remove a lot of it with a paint scraper. This UNi-PRO 100mm Heavy Duty Wall Stripper will come in handy if there are more difficult areas.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob