Last Updated on October 9, 2022 by Barry Gray
Painted ceilings are one of those simple aesthetic finishes that can make a huge difference to the look and feel of a room. But, peeling ceiling paint can spoil the entire effect.
It is essential to understand what preventative measures you can take to make sure that your ceiling paint does not peel. This article will cover how to prevent ceiling paint from peeling BEFORE you begin painting your ceiling.
If you already have ceiling paint that’s peeling, you will need to either patch it up or scrape it all off and repaint, depending on how bad and ugly the paint has already peeled. Either way, this article will still provide value by helping you prevent any future peeling!
So before you begin your next paint job let’s jump right into 11 things you can do to prevent ceiling paint from peeling!
1. Clean and Prep
You should ALWAYS thoroughly clean and prep your ceiling before beginning a paint job. This may seem like an unnecessary and tedious task, but I promise that it will make a big difference to your final product.
Dirt, dust, and grime can all build up on ceilings, particularly when a ceiling has not been cleaned in some time (no judgement – cleaning a ceiling is not always a part of everyone’s home maintenance routine!) Any dirt, dust, or grime that remains on a ceiling will make it difficult for the paint to properly stick to the ceiling, which can quickly lead to peeling paint.
2. Prime Your Ceiling Before Painting
Always prime your ceilings before painting. Priming is another necessary pre-painting step for most applications.
Primer is essential to use before painting your ceiling because it will not only help ensure that your paint adheres to the surface of your ceiling, but it will also provide a smoother and more polished finish.
Apply the primer according to the instructions supplied with the product, and allow it to fully dry before continuing with the paint.
3. Allow Adequate Drying Time
Usually, using a primer means that you’ll only need one coat of paint to finish. But some people just prefer to use a double coat of paint. And that’s okay.
But be sure to allow adequate drying time between coats of paint. Many types of paints seem to dry very quickly and will even feel dry to the touch not long after applying the first coat.
Many DIY ceiling painters mistakenly believe that they can apply a second coat as soon as the first coat seems to be dry. However, rushing to apply a second coat before the first coat has had sufficient time to fully dry can result in peeling and uneven looking color.
It is best to wait about two to four hours in between coats for most types of paint. However, if you are using an oil-based paint, it may be ideal to extend drying time to about 24 hours.
4. Invest in Good Quality Paint
If you are doing a DIY paint project on your ceiling, you may be tempted to save some money and use a lower quality paint. Please avoid this mistake, as it could end up even more costly in the long run.
You should aim to select a good, high-quality paint for your ceiling. Even if you have cleaned, primed, and prepped the best way possible, using a low-quality paint can render all your other efforts useless.
There are some cheap paint products on the market that do not offer the adhesive properties needed to prevent paint from peeling. I highly recommend that you do a little bit of research before purchasing your ceiling paint.
Generally, you should avoid using paints that contain “calcimine” and lean more toward products that have a lot of “resin”, which is the ingredient that makes paint stick to surfaces properly. For ceiling projects specifically, you should opt for higher viscosity paints, as this will help reduce messes from paint drippage.
5. Take Measures to Prevent Moisture
Take measures to prevent water damage and moisture build-up.
This is especially important in bathrooms. If you prefer long, steamy showers, then the paint on your bathroom ceiling may be at risk of peeling. Bathrooms ceilings are obviously exposed to a lot of humidity and are prone to experiencing water damage if left vulnerable.
Condensation and humidity are common culprits for paint peeling on ceilings of bathrooms (or any other humid area of your home). This is because moisture can make it more difficult for paint to adhere to the surface of a ceiling firmly. Condensation and humidity in bathrooms can not only lead to aesthetic issues like peeling paint but can also be a health hazard as it can cause a build-up of mold and mildew.
If you would like to take measures to prevent paint from peeling in any area of your home that is prone to humidity, you should invest in some good ventilation. In bathrooms, exhaust fans can be particularly effective at combating peeling paint.
But you may not wish to invest in exhaust fans. In that case, as much as it pains me to say it (because I too love long warm showers), you may also want to ensure that everyone in your family reduces the length of their showers just a tad – keeping them between 5 to 7 minutes each.
6. Avoid Painting in Excessive Heat
Avoid painting your ceiling when it is excessively hot when the ceiling may be exposed to intense, direct sunlight. This rule always holds true for outdoor painting projects but can be a good preventative measure to take for interior paint projects as well.
Heat is no friend to paint, as it can cause it to dry too quickly which makes sticking to a surface difficult. When you do decide to paint your ceiling, you should be sure to take precautions to avoid any issues caused by high temperatures, including cranking up the A/C and blocking out the sunlight.
7. Don’t Apply Too Many Layers
Resist the urge to apply too many layers of paint. Be sure to carefully select your paint color and understand in advance what the final product will look like.
If you want to make the color darker, you may be tempted to keep painting, but I cannot emphasize this enough: DO NOT DO THIS. Adding too many layers of paint will add extra weight and cause almost immediate peeling.
8. Use the Right Product for Your Ceiling Material
Use the right kind of paint and primer for your ceiling material. Different painting projects require different types of paint and primer.
You first need to know what type of ceiling you have. Ceilings are made from a wide variety of materials including wood, plaster, drywall, tile, and sometimes even metal.
It is important to understand what type of surface you are working with before selecting your paint and primer because the products you choose will be dependent on the type of ceiling you have. So if you want to paint a wooden ceiling for example, you need to buy paint and primer that’s suitable for wood.
9. Don’t Use Expired Paint
Many people are not aware that paint actually has an expiration date. So you may be tempted to use that old bucket of paint that’s been sitting in the garage for years.
Using expired paint on your ceiling can lead to peeling. So be sure to double-check the expiration date of your paint before beginning your project.
Generally, latex paint will expire around the ten year mark and solvent paints will be good for about fifteen years.
10. Use the Right Tools and Methods
A DIY ceiling paint project is very doable, but you must be sure to adhere to the correct way of doing things. This includes things like avoiding painting in very thin layers which will make it difficult for the paint to stick to the ceiling. Use good quality paint brushes and rollers to achieve quality coats.
Ceiling paint that is peeling can be an eyesore and drastically reduce the appeal of your space. But if you take the time to look into what products are best for your project, take precautions to avoid peeling caused by heat, humidity, or water damage, ensure that you use proper painting methods, and do the required cleaning and preparation work beforehand, your painting project should go smoothly and your ceiling should stay smooth as well!
11. Repaint on a Regular Schedule
Even if you use the best possible paint, prepare your ceiling surface in the correct manner, and do everything else properly, your ceiling will still require a repainting job eventually, sometime in the future.
This is just part of good paint maintenance. Ceiling paint that has not had a refresh job in a while is vulnerable to peeling and can also crack, bubble, or fade in vibrancy and color.
Not all ceilings are created equally of course, and some have more visibility and prominence within your home, so your repainting schedule will depend on the specifics of the ceiling in question. For example, areas that are used often like living rooms, kitchens, and hallways may need more frequent ceiling repaint jobs than other, less frequently used areas.
Repainting every three to five years is a good general rule of thumb.
Saw This Too Late?
Don’t worry if you’re here because you already have ceiling that’s peeling. It’s not too late to fix the problem!
The fix will depend on how big or bad the peeling area is. If it’s a smallish area, then you can you simply do the following:
- Scrape off all peeling paint using a putty knife or scraper tool
- Apply patching compound to the affected area and let dry
- Sand and clean the ceiling
- Apply a good quality primer
- Paint the area with good quality pain
If the area is too big, then you may want to consider removing all the existing paint, sanding and cleaning the entire ceiling for a smooth finish, and then priming and painting the ceiling.
Whatever option you go for, try to follow the 11 tips as best as you can. I hope you found this article helpful and good luck with your project!
