What are the causes of peeling wall and ceiling paint after painting? The most irritating thing to witness is probably paint peeling off a freshly painted ceiling. Here are the few most common causes for why your ceiling paint could begin to peel soon after the project is finished.

Calcium Paint

Your building's ceiling may have been painted with calcimine, also known as Kal-Kote, at one time if the paint is flaking. Unfortunately, new calcimine is the only type of calcimine that can be painted over old calcimine. If not, the paint won't adhere and will start to flake or peel.

Water damage

If your property has recently seen some water damage, there is a leak, or the humidity level is high, the paint may start to peel. Wet or damp surfaces do not let paint adhere very well. Additionally, after a few cycles of wetting and drying, plasterboard starts to decay and crumble. This also won't hold paint, either.

Using excessive paint layers

Peeling paint on interior walls might occasionally be the result of a poor paint job. Using too much paint and layering it up too thickly is one terrible habit some painters have. Since the weight and gravity speed up paint deterioration, this is particularly hazardous for ceilings.

High Humidity Condition

High humidity in a room with insufficient ventilation can lead to moisture build-ups in the walls, which can cause paint to blister. It causes moisture, which over time encourages the development of mildew and mould.

Improper preparation of the painting surface

Before beginning the paint process, the painting surface must be carefully prepared. The paint will begin blistering and peeling when it is placed to a surface that has not been prepped or that is uneven. If you wish to avoid this, careful planning is a need.

Overpainting soiled surfaces

A unclean surface doesn't allow paint to adhere. The paint cannot be applied properly if there is dust, filth, oil, or grease present. Applying paint to unclean surfaces will result in bubbling, which will lead to interior wall or ceiling paint peeling.

Elevated temperatures

Paint's ability to adhere to surfaces can be weakened by high temperatures. High temperatures can also make the paint dry more quickly than it should, which keeps the layers from establishing a solid bond.

High Sunlight Exposure

Oil-based paints are susceptible to cracking in direct sunshine. When exposed to bright sunshine, elastic and latex paints have a tendency to shrink and stretch, weakening the connections that hold them together.


The surface is not compatible with the used paint.

Particular paint types are just incompatible with certain surfaces.

Some synthetic polymer substances can stop paint from adhering completely.

Galvanized steel and concrete both have an impact on oil-based paints.

Natural oils that are produced by wood surfaces can hinder paint adherence.

Some paints are unable to mechanically adhere to smooth surfaces, thus any coatings applied to them risk being removed right away.

In order to avoid any unpleasant scenarios, it is crucial to have professional painters working on your painting project.

Applying Multiple Coats to the Same Surface

The bonding between various paint types is poor. Peeling paint can happen when various paint types are applied to the same surface. Conversely, latex-based paints and oil-based paints do not cling to one another. Use the same type of paint every time to prevent peeling.

Using the wrong paint or primer

For various surfaces, various types of paint are designed. There are paints made specifically for use on metallic, wooden, plastic, or concrete surfaces. For each of these sorts of surfaces, many primer types are also available. Using the wrong primer can also cause peeling because different types of paint call for different primers to be used with them.

How to Recognize Poor Paint

Water-based paints have a 15-year shelf life but oil paint can last up to 20 years. Nevertheless, there are still a number of ways that a paint can deteriorate. Additionally, you can use the quick, straightforward procedure to check to see if your paint is still usable.

Incorrect application techniques

Strong cohesive bonds that hold paint molecules together won't develop if the right instruments aren't used or if a layer of paint is applied too thinly. You will save a good amount of time and money by hiring skilled painters because you can be sure that this won't happen.

Resolving Paint Peeling Problems

There is a simple technique you can follow to fix peeling paint, and doing so will allow you to put an end to the problem for good. Your ceiling or wall paint will remain intact after application if everything is done correctly and all external influences are under control.

How Can a Peeling Ceiling Be Fixed?

The simple solution would be to let the experts handle it. However, if you're seeking for the precise procedure, these are the steps our crew takes to repair a peeling ceiling:


Remove all flaking paint by scraping. You can click here to find scraping tools here on our website at jdsdiy.com. 

Patch the spot, then let it dry.

Put a layer of oil-based primer on.

Put a thick coat of acrylic paint on.

How Can I Fix Peeling Paint From Drywall?

The procedure for repairing flaking drywall paint is largely the same.

Remove all flaking paint by scraping. Check out our Scrapers and Filing Knives category for a wide range of scrapers. 

To smooth out the wall, sand it. We have a wide range of sanding sheets and tools here at jdsdiy.com.

To repair any damage, use joint compound.

Sand the area once more.

Put some primer on.

2 coats of colourful paint should be used.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Paint Chipping?

There are numerous techniques for preventing paint chipping. A protective coat of Protect, polyurethane, or polyacrylic will do the trick, but you can also use a great variety of different waxes, pastes, and other materials to ensure you have a long-lasting surface that will stay intact for good. Our professional team of painters will typically recommend the best solutions based on the surface, but the basic idea is the same.


If you choose a reputable painter, you may avoid most of the causes of peeling paint.