Paint bubbling
What Is Paint Bubbling?
Paint bubbling, also called paint blistering, occurs when the paint starts lifting from the surface, forming large bubbles in the finish.
Paint bubbling and blistering are the same thing, so the terms can be used interchangeably regardless of terminology preference.
What Causes Paint to Bubble?
Paint bubbling can occur for several reasons, but the most common culprits are surface contamination, improper cleaning, environmental factors, and incompatible additives.
Painting over surfaces contaminated with oil, wax, grease, or silicone is a leading cause of surface contamination that leads to bubbling. Using an improper thinner or cleaner before painting can also prevent proper adhesion.
How to Fix and Prevent Paint Bubbling
Knowing the causes of paint bubbling can help you avoid it on future projects — thorough surface preparation and cleaning before applying any coat of paint are essential steps.
Before starting any repair project, use the PaintMath paint calculator at / to estimate how much paint you will need, reducing the risk of rushing the job or applying coats too thickly, both of which can contribute to bubbling.
A Note on Older Homes and Lead Paint
When repairing bubbling or peeling paint in a pre-1978 home, be aware that approximately three-quarters of homes in the United States built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint.
Any renovation, repair, or painting project in a pre-1978 home that has lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust, so appropriate precautions should be taken before disturbing any painted surface.
Key takeaways
- Paint bubbling and paint blistering refer to the same problem — paint lifting from a surface to form bubbles — and share common causes like surface contamination and improper cleaning.
- Pre-1978 homes may contain lead-based paint, and any repair or repainting work in those homes requires special care to avoid creating hazardous lead dust.
Related tools
Estimate materials with our paint calculator on PaintMath.