How to Fix Bubbling Paint (Scrape, Prime, Repaint)

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Step 1 — Scrape and sand to a sound edge

Step 2 — Fix the moisture source

Step 3 — Prime, then two thin topcoats

Tools and coatings for a lasting repair

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Remove blisters

Warner 2" Stiff Scraper with Hammer Cap, 10997

You have to remove every lifted blister back to sound paint or bare substrate — a stiff scraper with a hammer cap knocks off loose film without gouging drywall like a putty knife.

~$9on AmazonCheck price →
Prime bare edges

Zinsser B-I-N Advanced Synthetic Shellac Primer, 1 Qt

After sanding, prime the bare edges so the repair does not telegraph through — shellac-base primer blocks stains and seals chalky edges the topcoat would not bond to.

~$20on AmazonCheck price →
Finish the repair

Zinsser PERMA-WHITE Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint, Eggshell, 1 Qt

Feather the repair with the same mildew-resistant topcoat you would use in a humid room so the patch does not re-bubble at the seam when moisture cycles.

~$22on AmazonCheck price →

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Related reading

Diagnose first: Why is my paint bubbling.