Helpful video reference. The video above is "How to FIX FLAKY PAINT. Peeling paint DIY repair. How to use fine surface filler. Flaking paint fix!" from POUSE around the HOUSE. It is a practical walk-through of the technique, worth watching for the hand movement rather than just reading about it.
Find out why it is flaking
Look at where it is happening. Flaking in a bathroom or on an outside wall often points to moisture. Flaking over a patch of damp, or with a tide mark or mould, needs the source of the damp fixed first. Painting over it does not cure it.
Other causes include paint applied over dust or grease, over a glossy finish with no key, or on bare plaster without a mist coat.
Check for lead before you scrape
In a home built before the 1960s, treat old paint as if it may contain lead. Do not dry sand or burn it off. Use a wet scraping method, keep the dust down, wear a suitable mask and clean up with damp cloths. Keep children and pets out of the room.
If you are unsure, have a sample tested or use a professional.
Scrape back to sound paint
Use a stiff scraper and take off everything that lifts, until you reach a firm edge. Do not stop halfway or the edge of the sound paint will start to lift again. Feather the edge with fine paper, wet if there is any doubt about lead.
Fill and prime the bare patches
Fill any dips with a suitable filler, let it dry and sand. Then apply a primer or stabilising solution to the bare plaster or wood so the new paint has something to grip. Bare plaster needs a mist coat first, roughly 70 parts emulsion to 30 parts water.
Spot prime only the bare area, then prime the whole wall if the patches are large.
Repaint in full coats
Apply two full coats of emulsion across the whole wall or section, not just over the patch, so the finish is even. Let each coat dry properly. Do not shut the room up while it dries, as a little ventilation helps.
What this means in Herne Bay
In Herne Bay, salt-laden air and damp coastal weather can find their way into older seafront houses, so check for moisture before you assume the paint is simply old. Victorian terraces near the front may well have layers of old paint of unknown content. The 1930s semis further inland often flake from paint put onto dusty or unprimed plaster.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Repainting over damp or mould without dealing with the cause.
- Dry sanding old paint in an older house.
- Painting only the patch so the repair shows as a different sheen.
Quick answers
Can I just paint over flaking paint?
No. New paint will lift with the old. Remove all loose paint back to a firm edge, then prime and repaint.
How do I tell damp from condensation?
Condensation tends to show as mould on cold surfaces and in corners. Damp often leaves a stain or a tide mark. If you are unsure, get it assessed before painting.
Prefer we do it?
Room painting from £325, standard trade paint and labour included. See our price guide, our interior decorating page or get a fixed quote.