How to Fix Wrinkled Paint
If you’ve found your paint has wrinkled, this how-to guide can help you get the best paint and repair results.
DEFINITION
What Are Paint Wrinkles?
This rough, crinkled paint surface occurs when uncured paint forms a skin.
CAUSES
What Causes Wrinkled Paint?
Your wrinkled paint was likely caused by one of these situations:
- Paint coats applied too thickly.
- Painting under extremely hot conditions or cool damp conditions, which cause the paint film to dry faster on top than on the bottom.
- Exposure of uncured paint to rain, dew, fog or high humidity levels.
- Applying topcoat of paint to insufficiently cured primer or first coat of paint.
- Painting over contaminated surface (e.g., dirt or wax).
How to Fix It
STEP 1
Remove Coating
Scrape or sand the affected area to remove the wrinkled coating.
STEP 2
Prep Surface
Sand the surface smooth to blend it into the surrounding coating. Next, make sure the surface is thoroughly clean.
STEP 3
Prime (where needed)
Prime any bare areas with the appropriate primer. Allow it to dry completely.
STEP 4
Apply Coating
Reapply the coating (according to the product label, especially considering the environmental conditions).
Primer Products for This Project
For interior projects, you can start with a top-of-the-line primer like Premium Wall & Wood Primer. For an exterior project, you can prime the surface with a quick-drying primer like Exterior Latex Wood Primer. For both interior and exterior projects, finish with the same coating product used in the original application, if possible.
