Skip Navigation
Banners of logo best awards

Causes of Cracking and Flaking Paint and Why It’s an Issue

Causes of Cracking and Flaking Paint and Why It's an Issue

Here is what you should know regarding paint failure and how you can get it resolved.

Is your building currently dealing with paint that is cracking or flaking? If so, it could be the result of what professionals have deemed to be “paint failure.” Paint failure is what happens when the bond that paint has with the surface on which it’s applied becomes weaker. This phenomenon can happen whenever a coat of paint is thin or inconsistent. Sometimes, it could be because of a failed adhesion during the application. Without an understanding of how paints should be applied, there’s a higher chance of you running into this problem. Here is what you should know regarding paint failure and how you can get it resolved.

Causes for Cracking and Flaking

Flaking usually happens because paints get lifted from the wall surface. Crackling, on the other hand, occurs whenever dry paint films split from at least one coat of paint. Flaking and cracking are symptoms that often pop up for a couple of reasons:

  • Water/Humidity: Paints are more likely to peel if they either get more exposure to humidity or if they get applied to a damper surface. This is especially true with plywood, and it becomes vulnerable to cracking and flaking in its surface coating.
  • Not Preparing the Surface: Dirty surfaces, and ones that aren’t primed the right way, are more likely to get either cracked or flaked.
  • Using Low-Quality or Expired Paints: Paints that are expired, or otherwise just low quality, are more likely to peel than paints that are fresher and higher-quality.
  • Not Applying Properly: This is the most likely reason that people experience paint failure. This is especially true when people use wood that has a great deal of “flat” hard grain.

Why It’s Great to Get Paint Failure Fixed Early

If you can identify the problem early on, you can save a great deal of time and money later on. Hairline cracks that are a little smaller tend to be easier to fix than larger ones. However, for flaking and peeling paints, there’s a high risk for water damage, and your substrate could get damaged as well. Both of these problems will require the help of a professional. The deeper the damage goes, the more money it will cost to get the problem resolved, so the sooner you try finding help, the better. If you keep checking for cracks on a regular basis, you won’t have to deal with more expensive renovations to your house.

Contact Albaugh & Sons

Since 2003, Albaugh & Sons, LLC, has been dedicated to meeting the fencing, decking, and home remodeling needs of homeowners throughout the greater Frederick area. All of our team members are experienced, well-trained, and committed to exceeding the expectations of every customer.

Visit our website here, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 17th, 2020 at 9:42 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.