Learn how to fix chipped paint and properly prepare your wooden surface for painting! Follow these steps, to get great adhesion and a beautifully painted porch!

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How to Fix Chipped Paint

Chipping paint is one of the many nightmares that home owners face! I know that I have looked at chipping paint and ignored it for a good number of years on our side porch. There are multiple reasons as to why I think our paint is chipping. Most likely a few of the reasons I share below!

If you are here, you probably want to learn how to fix chipped paint and what you can do about it! Make sure you read on to see 5 common reasons for chipping paint and how to properly prepare your surface for painting!

I’ve been working hard on updating my side porch for the 555 Room Challenge! You can read more about my plans and see the look I’m going for in my post, “$500 Outdoor Decorating Ideas Style Board!”

You can also check out the two other spaces I’ve updated for $500 in my home below!

$500 Master Bedroom Makeover

$500 Star Wars Bedroom

5 Reasons for Chipping Paint:

Weather damage
Water damage
Using a paint incompatible to the surface
Poor application methods
Poor surface preparation

Weather Damage:

Hight temperatures and intense sunlight can corrode even a quality paint job. The same goes for cold environments where you see snow and other forms of cold weather precipitation. If a climate is extremely dry, that can also cause the paint to flake over time. The most important thing is that you get great adhesion by properly preparing the surface in these intense environments.

Water Damage:

Whether it’s from a leak or water getting into your walls from the outside, water damage will most certainly cause your paint to bubble, crack, and chip. When water penetrates the surface it works its way between the layers of paint and the surface. Ensuring a great adhesion between the surface and the paint can help in most instances, but constant water will find a way to lift paint.

Using a paint incompatible to the surface:

Depending on the paint surface, you will need to chose a specific type of paint. Certain surfaces do not allow for paint to fully adhere, which will cause peeling or chipping paint. For example, new wood or glossy surfaces will have problems that prevent proper paint adhesion. Often you can get proper adhesion by using a primer first, and then using the type of paint you want to use. Check the paint can to find out which surfaces it will adhere to.

Poor application:

It is really important when paint a surface to be very intentional in your application methods. You can’t just slap some paint on a paint brush and go willy nilly! You should have a plan. For example, if you are paining an interior room you can start by painting the walls and then the trim. You might use a sprayer like THIS one or a roller for the walls and most likely a paint brush for the trim.

I’ll go ahead and include using the wrong paint or primer or low quality paint in this section also. Making sure you can paint a certain type of paint on top of another one, will prevent you from having to repaint in the short term. Do not cheap out on paint! I’d rather see someone save for paint than to buy something that’s not going to last.

Poor surface preparation:

One of the most important steps in painting is making sure that your surface is properly prepared. If you have any loose or chipping paint, you need to scrape or sand it to remove it. You also need to make sure you clean your surface with the proper cleaning solution. If you do not follow the proper steps, the paint will not adhere to the surface properly and will get chipping paint eventually.

Related: “Upcycled Folding Stools”

How to Prepare Your Surface for Painting:

Before you begin, make sure that you are wearing the proper protective gear. This includes eye protection and a face mask or respirator depending on the project.

Remove larges chips of paint using the PaintEater by Wagner. This tool is awesome for removing large areas of loose paint! To remove chipped paint, you can use the sander on its edge. If you use the sander flat against your material, it will smooth out the edges making it easier to repaint.
Wash off surface using an appropriate cleaner. I have THIS powerwasher to clean and to help remove chipping paint. You can add your cleanser to your powerwasher if you choose.
Remove any loose paint using a random orbital sander like THIS one that a I have, as well as, a paint scraper for the hard to reach areas.*
Patch the holes and cracks using an exterior grade spackle like Plastic Wood and an exterior grade caulk. Make sure that your products are paintable and/or stainable.
Once dry, sand the patches smooth using a medium grit sandpaper (60-100).
Wash off any sanding dust and dirt using an appropriate cleanser. I’m painting the wood, so I’ll be using Behr Premium No. 63 All in one Wood Cleanser.
Paint all surfaces using a primer. I’ll be using Zinsser primer 123 for the porch floor and railings.

*Please check your painted surfaces for lead if you have any concern. Sanding lead paint can cause dust that contains lead. Exposure to lead dust can lead to adverse health effects.

I have gone through all of the steps above and I am ready to paint! You don’t want to miss my next 555 Room Challenge post where I’m talking about the tools I used to paint the porch that will save you time and the best porch paint colors!