So, you’ve decided it’s time—it’s time to repaint the walls of a room to make them look as beautiful as they once were when they were newly painted. However, even a seemingly simple and straightforward task as repainting can breed problems. Familiarize yourself with hitches you may encounter when repainting interior concrete walls so you can avoid them. Here are some common ones:

1.  Ignoring existing paint problems

Ignoring problems, more often than not, only leads to more problems. One of the very first things you have to do once you’ve decided you want to repaint your wall is to take a good look at it. You need to check if the paint is still in good condition. This would mean it’s free from common paint problems like peeling, chalking, blistering, and mildew (find a more comprehensive list here).

If you do see signs of paint problems, it will have to be fixed first before you can repaint. Otherwise, you’ll likely see the same problem arising with your new topcoat or it could even lead to more serious issues that will be harder to solve. For those new to home painting, it’s best to consult with a professional on what to do with a troubled wall before continuing on with your repainting project.

5 Most Common Paint Problems Caused By Water Seepage and Moisture | MyBoysen

2.  Bleeding

Does this mean blood through your walls? Of course not. Bleeding is a painting problem where the old layer of paint becomes visible through your new, fresh topcoat. It’s especially common when painting a lighter color of paint over an existing darker colored one.

To avoid this, apply a primer beforehand such as the Boysen Permacoat Flat Latex B-701. It comes in white and is applied before the topcoat (a.k.a. your chosen color) to ensure your old color will not be seen through your new one.

3.  Paint incompatibility

There are several ways paint incompatibility can happen to you during repainting. First, as with any painting project, there’s the mistake of using the wrong type of paint for your surface. For example, applying oil-based paint (such as enamel paint), which is typically for use on wood and metal surfaces, on your concrete will result in a painting problem called saponification.

There’s also paint incompatibility in terms of solvency. This would mean applying paint of a higher solvency over existing paint of a lower solvency which then causes problems. An example of this would be applying a solvent-based paint, like Boysen Acrytex, on top of water-based paint, like Boysen Permacoat Latex. You’ll end up with adverse reactions such as paint that will wrinkle, be easily scraped off, and other bothersome issues.

For repainting interior concrete walls, a safe bet would be to use water-based paints like Boysen Permacoat, Boysen Healthy Home, and Virtuoso Silk Touch. Water-based paints can usually be applied over most other types of paint.

4.  Lap marks

Lap marks refer to the difference of color and sheen of the paint film generally caused by wrong paint application. They are a common problem especially for those who are inexperienced with painting and can be more noticeable when you’re working on large areas like a wall. It does one well to watch out for lap marks when repainting; your effort to revive the beauty of your wall would have been wasted if it just gets ruined by lap marks.

Lap marks happen when your wet roller goes over paint that’s already dry. The wet and dry edges overlap causing a clear cut line. To avoid lap marks, follow the M-pattern application when using rollers on walls. Try to finish painting an entire wall at once too—stopping in the middle will give the paint time to dry and increase the chances of lap marks.

5.  Forgetting to do surface prep work

There is still surface prep work to do even if your walls are in good condition. Before repainting, you will need to clean your walls to remove dust and dirt. Lightly sanding the walls will also help ensure your new paint adheres to the surface. Don’t forget to wipe away the sanding dust after. You can correct minor imperfections, like hairline cracks, with putty such as Boysen Masonry Putty B-7311. When the putty dries, sand where you puttied to achieve a smooth finish.

Remember, when in doubt, consult with a professional such as a trusted painter or contractor. They’ll know how to solve existing paint problems so you can repaint, which type of paint is suited for your wall, and give you other helpful advice that will save you from encountering paint problems.

You can also turn to Boysen’s technical team for assistance. Send an email to ask@myboysen.com or call (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for a one-on-one consultation.

Author

Jill is a writer on a continuous journey to learn about paint and share them with you, the reader. She has an interest in the technical side of things but also thoroughly enjoys playing with colors. She likes calm greens, quiet blues, and mellow yellows best.

Write A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.