Nothing is more frustrating than witnessing freshly painted exterior walls begin to flake away like a sunburn.
After spending a significant amount of money on painting the place, you’re now confronted with flaking paint that is peeling back like an onion skin. and looks even worse than before.
The problem with peeling paint, you see, is that it’s seldom just a cosmetic issue. It’s your home quite literally trying to tell you that something has gone awry. In Perth’s harsh climate, this problem becomes even more significant.
You need to have that conversation as soon as possible.
Why Is Your Exterior Paint Peeling in the First Place?
Before you grab a scraper and start removing the wallpaper, let’s first discuss the issue at hand. No paint spontaneously decides to peel off.
If you don’t address the underlying cause, you’ll find yourself repeating this process in a year.
Moisture Trapped Under the Paint
Moisture is usually the culprit. When water becomes trapped beneath your paint, it forms a buffer between the paint and the surface. As the water swells and shrinks in response to temperature fluctuations, it pushes paint off the wall.
Sometimes it happens slowly. Sometimes, particularly after a heavy rain, a whole sheet of paint can come off.
Poor Surface Preparation
Another common issue in this saga is inadequate surface preparation. We know it well — someone skips the proper prep work, coats surfaces in a coat of paint over dirty or chalky surfaces, and then hopes things turn out for the best.
Six months later, they’re calling us to mend what should have been done properly the first time.
Perth’s Harsh UV Radiation
It doesn’t help that Perth ranks among the worst cities for UV exposure. Australia has some of the highest UV ray levels on this planet, and Perth definitely gets its quota.
Inferior paint systems just couldn’t stand up to this constant UV barrage. The paint breaks down; it no longer sticks, and it begins to disintegrate from your wall.
Temperature Extremes
Yes, extreme temperatures are also causing damage to your paint. Paint is constantly expanding and contracting when we have 40-degree days in the summer, all of a sudden followed by single-digit nights.
If you used the wrong materials or painted in unsafe conditions, then this constant movement is stress that will eventually cause failure.
Getting Down to Business: What You’ll Actually Need
If we are being real here, repairing peeling paint properly is not a weekend project you can do in 30 minutes and three easy steps.
You’re going to need the right gear, but more than anything, you’re going to have to actually do the prep work really well.
For your first attempt, you will need to focus on the DIY aspects:
- Paint scrapers (you will want at least a wide blade and a thin one for detail work)
- Brushes for wire-brushing into creviced areas
- Use 80-grit and 120-grit sandpaper, or a power sander for larger fixtures.
- A pressure washer, or at a minimum, a good hose with a nozzle.
- Sugar soap or suitable exterior cleaner
- High-quality primer formulated for outside use
- Consider using paint that is specifically rated for exterior use in harsh climates.
Here’s where people get hung up – they try to shortcut the setup. They want to rush into painting because it is the only stage where visible progress can be observed.
But the real work goes into preparing. It’s boring. It’s time-consuming. And it’s absolutely critical.
The Step-by-Step Process (No Shortcuts)
This is how you should address it appropriately (and no, this isn’t fast). It may take anywhere from one full weekend to several, depending on how much damage you are working with. Rush it, and you’ll be doing it again in six months.
Step 1: Assess the damage.
Walk through your entire home and look at each wall, really checking out the state of it. Take photos. Make notes. “Sometimes what appears to be a small peeling section is actually part of a larger moisture problem that affects several walls.
Step 2: Keep scraping.
This is where it starts to get tiresome. Scraping. Sanding. More scraping. Your arm will get tired. The concept of ‘good enough’ will encourage you to reach its level.
Don’t. Anything that isn’t stuck to the surface is going to fall off at some point.
Step 3: Clean thoroughly.
Then there’s the cleaning process, which most homeowners completely skip. Big mistake. You have to clean those walls!
Dirt, chalk, mildew, and salt (if you live near the coast) all have to go. A pressure washer will make this chore easier, but be mindful of how much pressure you’re using. Too fierce, and the substrate gets chewed up.
Step 4: Let it dry completely.
This could take several days, depending on the weather and how much water you used. Painting over wet walls can lead to disastrous results.
The paint may look O.K. at first, but moisture trapped below will result in trouble later on.
The Primer Debate (Spoiler: You Need It)
This is the one step that people often try to skip.
High-quality exterior primers seal porous surfaces, increase paint adhesion, and allow moisture absorption. They’re equally picky on raw wood or weathered surfaces.
Tannin- and stain-blocking primers keep tannins and stains from bleeding through the topcoat in moisture-damaged areas and prevent tannins/stains from bleeding.
Slap it on all the bare or iffy spots and let it dry, and I mean really dry—the manufacturer’s recommendations are only for wimps. Wait longer if the weather is cool or the humidity is high.
Choosing Paint That’ll Actually Last
This is where Perth property owners shoot themselves in the foot. They’ll do all the prep work correctly, use excellent primer, then ruin everything by choosing cheap paint.
Perth’s climate demands specific paint formulations with proper UV blockers, flexibility for temperature extremes, moisture resistance, and fade protection.
Quality paint brands like Dulux WeatherShield, Taubmans Endure, and Haymes UltraPremium are designed for conditions like ours.
Yes, premium paints cost more per litre. But they go further, cover better, and last significantly longer. When you factor in redoing failed paint jobs, quality products are actually cheaper in the long run.
Application Technique Matters More Than You Think
Paint application seems straightforward until you get into it. These basics will save you from common mistakes:
- Timing is everything: Never paint in direct sunlight or extreme heat. Early mornings or late afternoons work best during the summer.
- Watch the weather: Don’t paint if rain is forecast within 24 hours. Paint needs time to cure before moisture exposure.
- Get the thickness right: Apply at the recommended thickness. Too thin means poor coverage; too thick causes runs and sags.
- Invest in decent tools: Quality brushes and rollers make a massive difference. Cheap ones leave marks and shed bristles.
- Follow coat recommendations: Most jobs need at least two coats over primer. One heavy coat doesn’t cut it.
Get these fundamentals wrong and even the best prep work won’t save you.
When DIY Stops Making Sense
Look, there’s satisfaction in DIY. However, there comes a time when DIY becomes a false economy, costing you significantly more than the savings from avoiding professional help.
If you have widespread peeling on multiple walls, moisture issues that are difficult to diagnose, or significant damage and erosion of your substrate, call in the professionals, especially if you lack the time to do the work correctly for a good appearance.
For more than 10 years, we’ve been correcting painting jobs gone wrong everywhere in Perth with our exterior house paint repairs.
We take care of the whole lot – from establishing what exactly is causing the problem to having a professional ready and waiting to prepare the surface properly, right through to using weatherproof paint systems and providing an actual 10-year workmanship guarantee.
The Real Cost of Getting It Wrong
Exterior paint that has failed is more than just ugly. All such areas of open, naked surface material are susceptible to weathering attack. Timber rots. Weatherboards deteriorate. Even concrete and masonry endure when water links to paint breakdown.
What begins as a fairly straightforward paint job becomes a huge structural problem if water penetrates behind the cladding.
We’ve seen cases where deferred paint maintenance has caused such extensive amounts of rot that whole walls required rebuilding.
The gap between quickly painting a place and doing some serious structural work is enormous.
And then there’s the uncountable cost of doing the work twice. Shoddy or rushed repairs often fail early. And then, you’re dumping time and money into the same walls again; only this time, you’re stripping harmful paint off of your previous failed attempt.
Perth-Specific Challenges You Need to Consider
And then, if you’re near the coast at all – and in Perth, that’s quite a lot of us – there are additional complications caused by salt air. Standard paint systems don’t stand up to continuous salt exposure.
Primers and paints specifically designed for coastal environments require more frequent maintenance than most inland properties.
Homes in the hills have different issues. The paint systems must be flexible and moisture-resistant to withstand extreme temperature changes, increased humidity, and occasional frost.
Even hinterland properties are affected by the easterly winds that bring salt from Fremantle. This issue affects properties in every suburb to some degree, and it definitely impacts the longevity of paint.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure (Always Has Been)
Once you’ve cleaned and protected your exterior paint job, add it to your list of recurring responsibilities. Please make it a habit to regularly inspect your property and watch for any early signs of trouble.
Catching a paint failure early – while it’s only a plane or two with an issue here and there – is much easier (and cheaper) than waiting until you have widespread issues.
Maintain and keep gutters clean. Water cascading down walls is one of the quickest paths to paint failure. Deal with drainage issues around the home. (By walls, standing water also causes moisture problems that paint can’t long withstand.)
Every couple of years, you should have it inspected from the outside by someone who knows what they’re looking at. Small problems are easiest to manage when addressed early; tackling them promptly prevents them from becoming much larger issues later on.
Making the Right Call
Peeling paint removal, Perth style, is all about doing things the right way the first time around. Half measures don’t work. “Shortcuts always come back to bite you.”
If you have enough time, tools and dedication to complete all the laborious prep work, knock yourself out.
But, let’s face it – most homeowners discover that skilled professionals produce better results within much quicker time frames and with the correct warranties.
Perth City Painters provides free quotes which come with no obligation. We will assess your situation, determine the necessary actions, and provide you with an accurate price quote.
We are fully licensed and insured and provide a 10-year workmanship warranty.
The paint on your home’s exterior is its first line of defence against the ravages of weather. Don’t leave it to chance.
Ready to repair your peeling paint? For a FREE QUOTE, call Perth City Painters on 1800 234 100. We cover all metro areas of Perth, 7 days a week.
