Why does paint bubble?

And other essential paint info…

Photo by Melyna Valle on Unsplash

Over the Christmas holidays I repainted half of my house. It was boring, but ultimately satisfying. I got to know a lot about paint. In this article I will answer the most commonly asked paint questions, and in the second half, I will share my top tips for painting your house.

Why does paint bubble?

Photo by Kind and Curious on Unsplash

Bubbles form in paint when the paint film loses adhesion with the underlying surface. Over time, bubbles can lead to the paint peeling, which will mean you have to scrape off all of the old paint, and repaint the surface.

There are several steps you can take to avoid bubbling. Firstly you should not shake up the paint your are using too rigorously, as this will lead to the formation of air bubbles. Nor should you stir paint too vigorously if it’s components have separated over time.

Before you start painting, make sure the wall is clean. Dirt or grease can interfere with adhesion, causing paint to bubble and become unstuck.

When using a roller, if you press too hard or roll too fast, you are also more likely to get bubbles. A slow, steady, not too…