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Do you know what’s more painful than a migraine on a Monday morning? — Paint peeling off your freshly coloured walls. The ache goes straight to your heart.
But where did it go wrong?
Damage to a freshly painted wall can happen in more ways than expected. If your family has children, it is even more of a possibility. So how should you care for your walls after a recent residential painting in Melbourne?
This article discusses 7 things that can ruin your newly painted walls. Read, learn, and handle your walls with care.
1. Water and Moisture
Moisture is often the common reason for a lousy paint job. It gets under the paint and weakens the adhesion. You will commonly notice it in wet areas, such as kitchens or laundry rooms.
The reasons could be anything from a leaking roof to excess humidity, but the underlying cause for any of these problems is water content. So, it is safe to say that water is the number one enemy of painted surfaces.
However, with the right treatment and prep work, you can ensure an effective paint job. This gets us to the next reason.
2. Inadequate Cleaning and Priming
A wall painted without proper cleaning and priming will show signs of damage within no time. A dirty wall hinders the paint’s grip on the surface. That is why professionals in residential painting in Melbourne emphasise the importance of proper groundwork before painting.
The preparation of walls involves the following.
- Paint stripping, if necessary
- Sanding and cleaning the surface
- Stuffing and smoothening cracks with putty
- Applying a quality primer or sealer on the surface
- Masking areas that should not be painted, such as windows.
More importantly, people sometimes use an incorrect primer, while others use no primer at all. Both these issues lead to ineffective paint jobs. Hence, when you discuss your project, ensure your provider uses the right primer.
3. Mixing Different Paint Types
At times, people mix two different types of paint. For example, the paint can peel when oil-based paint covers latex-based paint, or vice-versa. We notice it in DIY jobs more than professional ones. So, avoid combining different paints if you want the paint to last a long time.
Check what paint you have used previously before deciding and buying paint. The next layer has to be the same one.
If you want a different one, in any case, you can have the old paint stripped first and then get a new layer. Professionals are perfect for this job as they have the required tools and experience to pull it off.
4. Heavy Paint Layering
Unless it is a new home, we almost always re-paint our walls—a new paint layer over the old one. If this happens for a few years, you will see a time when the wall has received too many paint coats to allow one more.
The weight keeps adding up, and gravity will not fail to pull it down. So, it is better to ensure the wall can take another layer of paint before starting the job. If not, as we discussed before, you have the option to strip off the old paint and then add fresh paint.
Most old houses see this case. Make sure you talk this out with your provider of residential painting in Melbourne.
5. Using Expired Paints
Paints have expiry dates. However, the paint can also prematurely reach its end depending on several factors, such as storage conditions or paint type. Typically, oil-based paints have a longer shelf life than latex-based paints.
Hence, you must ensure the paint hasn’t gone bad before using it. You can do a patch test at a corner and check if it shows any odd signs:
- Paint separation
- Dries out quickly
- Develops a foul odour
The paint has gone bad if you notice any of the above signs. Dispose of it properly.
6. Leaving the Tape on For Too Long
Another common painting mistake is leaving the masking tape on for a long time. It causes the tape adhesive to dry out and become harder to remove. The tape must be removed immediately after the painting.
Further, using low-quality tape can also damage the paint or even leave residue behind. Ensure quality in every painting material, including tape. You can also test it somewhere hidden before using it in the actual job.
7. Nicking the Painted Walls
Scratching or nicking is a common way to damage freshly painted walls. It can occur when moving furniture, dragging items across the wall, or using sharp or abrasive tools near the wall.
You can prevent this by carefully handling furniture and other sharp or abrasive tools near painted walls. It can be a helpful idea to use felt sleeves for the furniture to prevent scratches and to use a drop cloth to protect the floor.
If you do accidentally scratch or nick the wall, touch up the paint as soon as possible to prevent the damage from becoming more severe.
Final Thoughts
Painting a house is a costly affair. Because so much time, money, and effort went into it, any damage to a freshly painted wall can be upsetting. But with these 7 simple precautions, you can protect your walls and have a brightly painted home for a long time.
One essential for an excellent paint job is the right service provider. You may already have many recommendations so far but add ours as well to your list — Blue Sky Coatings. You can check their painting process on their website for a better understanding.
They provide a broad range of services from exterior and interior painting to Roof painting in Melbourne. It’s a worthy recommendation, so consider it.
