Skip to main content

How to fix bubbling paint and prevent it from happening again

Painting is a fun and artistic project that often requires careful attention to detail. Imagine spending countless hours dusting, spackling, sanding, washing the walls before painting, taping, and then finally layering on those glorious coats — only to find the final result isn’t as flawless as you had originally hoped. The paint is no longer smooth — instead, it’s horribly bubbled.

Unfortunately, bubbles in paint can unexpectedly develop even after a paint job is complete. The good news is that you can take steps to prevent this problem from happening.

Related Videos

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

20 minutes

What You Need

  • Latex and oil-based primer

  • Scraper

  • Spackling

  • Paint

Couple painting a wall

What causes paint to bubble?

Hunker states, "Paint bubbling is caused by the paint film lifting away from the surface." Although there are several reasons why paint can bubble, let’s take a look at the two most common reasons. We’ll also cover how to fix and prevent these issues.

Primer was skipped

Not all substrates are infused with primer. Plaster and bare drywall are porous and can absorb a great amount of the pigments and binders (resins) that are found in paint. The paint’s base coat will typically contain a binder film that’s much thinner, which means that the next coat of paint won’t have the means to stick to the coat of paint that came before it. In general, never skip the primer if the paint being used isn’t already sealed with it.

Luckily, there's a solution if the paint is forming bubbles after a primer-free application.

Step 1: Scrape away the bubbles, and patch it along the way.

Step 2: Scrape and clean the surface, and then finish off with latex and oil-based primer that works to block stains.

Step 3: Choose the primer according to the type of paint you're using.

Step 4: For the next paint application, don’t skip out on the primer. For more information, check out our tips on sanding and priming.

Painting with a roller

Another reason paint bubbles

The painting surface may have also been wet before paint was applied. There may be moisture settling. Excess moisture on painted walls can lead to water-filled bubbles in the paint. Moisture can come from intense humidity, droplets of water, water leaks, or plumbing issues.

Unfortunately, water-filled bubbles may be on the substrate level, deeper in the paint, or in the topcoat. It’s common to find this type of bubbling in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements due to excess condensation and moisture in those rooms.

Also, improper ventilation makes paint bubbles more likely to occur. Before putting in the effort to scrape off and patch these paint bubbles, be sure to:

Step 1: Address and investigate the moisture’s source. Moisture can come from anywhere, such as flooding, bathroom humidity, plumbing problems, roof leaks, and more.

Step 2: Once the source has been cleared, begin to scrape.

Step 3: Patch up the walls.

Step 4: Clean, and then let the walls dry completely.

Painting a wall yellow

Remember, it’s important to minimize moisture possibilities so they don’t negatively impact the paint job. Here's some advice from Bob Vila on this particular subject. By addressing and fixing the moisture source, you can properly handle paint bubbles and prevent them in the future.

There is more to painting than just swiping paint around walls and floors — it requires careful consideration. Understanding what causes paint to bubble and knowing how to fix painting mistakes on walls can dramatically reduce terrible paint bubbles from forming and ruining your work. A proper and careful paint application calls for a flawless finish. Also, if you’re interested in painting your home’s interior, but don’t know which color suits best with your space, take a look at these latest wall painting trends.

Editors' Recommendations

Moving out? Get your security deposit back quickly with these simple tips
These tips for renters will help you save money
Couple packing moving boxes together

Moving out of an apartment is already a hectic event. But when you’re trying to get your security deposit back from your landlord, that stress only grows. After all, that’s a large chunk of change you’re owed—and one that would be much better off in your savings account or going toward decking out your new place. Whether your landlord has been slow to return your deposit or you’re just anxious to get your money back, here are a few tips for renters to get your security deposit back in full without a fuss.

Review your lease
When you decide to move out, one of the first things you should do is re-read your lease. This document lays out all the terms and conditions for ending your lease, giving your landlord notice about your move, and getting your deposit back. Oftentimes, your lease will also let you know how many days your landlord has to return the security deposit (usually 30-60 days after move-out) and any other move-out requirements. You may be required to return your keys, clean the property, and revert any alterations you made to their original condition before your deposit is returned.
Give your landlord proper notice
Giving proper notice before moving out is crucial to getting your full security deposit back. If you don’t give enough notice, you may be required to pay an extra month’s rent—even if you’re not living there. Not only will you have to give your landlord more money, but you may also have to wait longer to get your deposit back.

Read more
The most effective ways to finally fix that annoyingly squeaky door
How to fix a squeaky door and have a peacefully quiet home
Close-up of door handle with bed out of focus in the background

Walking around your home during the day, you don’t necessarily notice all the creaks in the floorboards or the squeaky doors in your house. After all, the sounds of everyday life tend to drown out those small, creaking sounds.

When the house falls silent in the evening, though, that noisy door turns into a downright disturbance, possibly waking up the whole family in the middle of the night. If you’re looking for some DIY solutions to fix a bothersome, creaky door, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through how to fix a squeaky door with these effective methods.

Read more
6 times you should absolutely choose an eggshell paint finish
Is eggshell the perfect paint finish? Here is when the answer is 'yes'
Painting with classic neutral colors

Remodeling your home is always exciting. It's a thrill to reimagine a room and give it a modern, stylish facelift that matches your style perfectly. Part of that process is the inevitable task of repainting the space. While picking out a paint color and a brand of paint may seem like a simple decision, there are a lot of variables to consider. One variable is the type of finish you want for the space.

There are so many paint finish varieties, including matte, flat, high-gloss, and eggshell, all with different benefits and appearances. To help you out, we're going to talk about six times you should definitely go with an eggshell paint finish.

Read more