Before painting your house’s interior or exterior, it’s important to deal with existing paint problems. Although you can simply cover over old, peeling, or chipped paint with a fresh coat, this approach tends to leave telltale rough edges.
In a certain light, this kind of paint fix is highly visible. For key areas—or if you are just more of a perfectionist—you will want the underlying layer to present a perfectly smooth, flat surface as the base for a fresh coat of paint.
Basics of Fixing Chipped, Peeling Paint
If you’re extremely motivated and have a great deal of free time on your hands, you can strip off every square inch of paint right down to bare wood, But it’s easier and more logical to make spot fixes instead of stripping away all of the paint.
When peeling or chipping paint is found in a small area, you may be able to simply brush off the peeling paint and then prime the wall and paint over it. As long as the remaining edges of the peeling area are stable, this solution will work. But it’s not always the most attractive solution, especially if you’re dealing with peeling or chipped paint that is several layers deep.
A better method is to fill the depressions with wood filler before priming and painting. In addition to being more attractive, this method also helps protect those edges of existing paint so that they are less likely to begin peeling again.
Tip
This type of fix is best for small and infrequent patches of peeling or chipped paint. If the house is badly damaged, all of the paint should be removed.
Safety Considerations
Older homes, especially those built before 1978, may have been painted with lead-based paint. Lead-based paint has been proven through research to cause neurological damage. It is particularly harmful to pregnant women and to children. Test the paint for lead before you begin stripping or sanding it. If it does contain lead, have the paint removed by a qualified remediation company.
Source: The Spruce
