Why is the paint peeling off my walls?

Every coat of paint holds on to the coat beneath it. If one of the old layers loses its grip, everything above it has nothing to hold on to. That is why peelingPeeling paintWhen paint loses its grip and lifts off in flakes or sheets. It is almost always a sign of a problem underneath, usually damp or poor preparation. often starts at one spot and comes away in large sheets, showing the old layers underneath.

The most common causes are damp, dust or grease on the surface, painting over glossy paint or old chalky paint without sandingSandingSmoothing a surface with sandpaper or a power sander to remove bumps, loose old paint or gloss, so the new paint or varnish grips well and comes out smooth. and primerPrimerThe thin first coat that goes on before the main material. It binds dust, seals the pores and helps paint or waterproofing stick firmly., and the many layers that build up over the years. If the peeling is near the floor, under a window or around pipes, damp is the first suspect.

In an apartment with blue walls, the paint had lost its grip and was coming off in sheets. Painted over, it would have come away together with the new paint. Everything that was not firmly attached was scraped off, in the rooms, the hallways and around the door frames, the holes were filled, and then the white went on.

Scraping is the part of the job nobody sees at the end, but it decides the result. Leave even a little loose paint and the new paint will peel off with it. After scraping, the edges and dips are filled and sanded so the patches don't show under the paint.

Keep in mind: if the cause is damp, scraping and painting are not enough on their own. First find out where the water is coming from.