In addition to giving a wall an aged appearance, chipped paint can cause more serious paint issues. It’s easy to repair cracked paint on walls without redoing the entire space. Discover how to quickly repair broken paint on walls with a putty knife and cheap filler.
Read also: How To Clean Walls To Remove Scuffs And Stains
The Reason Paint Peels and Chips
The following could be the cause of paint chipping and more extensive peeling on walls:
- Impact on the body
- When painting, moisture
- inadequate surface preparation
- Apply paint on a shiny surface.
- Paint layers that are too thick
Prior to Starting
Lightweight wall filler and a few putty knives are required to repair the cracked paint:
Filler: Spackle is better than drywall joint compound, but both can be used. It works well for thin applications like paint chips since it is lighter than a joint compound.
Putty knives: Use a 4-inch knife to level the filler with the surrounding paint after scooping out and applying it with a 2-inch knife. If you like, you can use a single knife, but make sure it is wider than the patch area.
How to Repair Chipped Paint
Get the Space Ready
Remove the light switch face plates, outlet covers, thermostat covers, and photos that are close to the chipped paint. To stop paint splatter from causing damage to the floor, tape a drop cloth to the floor against the baseboard.
Remove Loose Paint
Use the wire brush to remove any loose paint edges that are peeling. Use a putty knife for loose paint that is difficult to remove with a brush. To prevent removing more paint than is required, hold the putty knife at a 45-degree angle and push lightly.
Sand the edges
To further smooth the paint’s edges, lightly rub the outside with medium-grit sandpaper. To avoid damaging the wall, do not oversand.
Put the filler on
Pick up the joint compound or spackle from the container with the putty knife. Firmly press the filling onto the patch. Using the putty knife, scrape the extra filling back into the original container.
Make the filler smooth
Wipe the patch area with the sanitized putty knife. To make the filler level with the surrounding paint, swipe it once or twice more in various directions. The patch area may get gouged by more swipes.
Allow the filler to dry
Allow the filling to dry and solidify for 30 to 60 minutes. The filler may take four to five hours to dry if the patched area is deeper than the surrounding paint’s thickness (1 to 2 mm).
Sand the area
To make the mended area fit in perfectly with the surrounding paint, sand it using fine-grit sandpaper. Sand carefully. Use a fresh microfiber cloth or another lint-free cloth to remove the dust.
Get the patch primed
Apply primer by brushing it over the repaired area and then an additional inch or two onto the surrounding paint. Wait 60 minutes for the primer to dry; the longer you wait, the better the paint will look.
Apply paint to the patch
Over the mended area, brush the wall paint. To blend the paint into the surrounding paint, release the brush’s pressure at the conclusion of each stroke. Before recoating, allow the paint to cure for four hours.
How to Stop Paint from Peeling and Chipping
Poor preparation and paint application are the main causes of paint chipping and peeling issues:
- Use fine-grit sandpaper to scratch glossy paint.
- Before painting, clean the wall.
- Before painting, make sure the surface is completely dry.
- Keep in mind that latex paint requires four hours to recoat, whereas oil-based paint requires twenty-four hours.
- Paint chips should be fixed right away since they can grow.
- In high-impact locations, such as dining rooms and restrooms, chair rail trim and wainscoting can help preserve the paint.
Read also: How To Clean Walls Without Ruining The Paint