If your paint is starting to chip and peel, it’s not going to look very good, so you’ll probably be thinking of how to fix it or cover it up. To many, the seemingly simplest solution is to just paint over the chipped paint, with a brand new layer of paint. But can you actually do that?
Technically, there’s nothing stopping you from grabbing a paintbrush and going over the chipped paint with a new layer, and it will definitely cover it up and hide it for a while. But this is not a good idea.
And the main reason why this is not a good idea is that the end result will not be good, or smooth, or long-lasting.
Basically, if you paint over chipped paint, the surface isn’t going to be smooth, and the new coating will be uneven, botched up in places, and overall will not look professional. But worse than that, is the fact that you will be painting over the chipped paint, and chipped paint isn’t stable, it’s coming off from the wall. This means that the surface you have painted is coming off, and as it peels off, the new paint will come with it!
So although you can paint over chipped paint, it will likely not last very long, making it a waste of time, energy, and resources.
You need a smooth and even surface that is suitably prepared for new paint, in order for the new paint to adhere properly, and a wall of chipped paint just isn’t it.
Instead, you should first fix the chipped paint, often by removing the worse parts and smoothing down the surface, before you can go ahead and paint over it.
Can I paint over cracked paint?
If the paint on a surface is cracked, it means that something during the painting process went wrong, as the end result isn’t smooth, and the paint is clearly ruined.
Usually, cracked paint indicates that the different layers were not left to dry out properly during the painting process, or that paint was applied to a surface that wasn’t entirely dry.
You should never paint over a surface that is damp, or that has moisture, as this will cause the paint to be unable to fully adhere onto the surface, and in turn, it will cause the paint to crack and eventually peel off. So basically, if the surface isn’t 100% dry, the paint job will not be successful, as it will soon show signs of being ruined, and it will not be durable at all.
But let’s say you have a wall of cracked paint, and you obviously want to get rid of it, maybe by covering it up with a fresh coat of brand new paint. Is that possible? Will it work?
Unfortunately, no. Painting over cracked paint will not be a good fix, and it is not a viable solution, as you will just be adding another layer of paint that will also crack and eventually peel off. In order to paint over the cracked paint, you first have to address the cracked paint, getting to the root problem, and removing all the ruined layers, before starting anew.
So if you want to repaint a surface with cracked paint, you first have to remove all of the cracked paint (as this is an unstable surface to paint over, and it will most likely have moisture or dampness trapped beneath it).
Once you have removed all of the cracked paint, you will have to make 100% sure that the wall is properly dried before you continue. You don’t want to end up with cracked paint again!
Then prep the wall surface accordingly (once dry), with a suitable primer before you get to painting!
How do you paint over chipped paint on a wall?
If you’re going to paint over chipped paint, there are a few steps you need to take before adding the layer of new paint, to ensure that the end result is good and durable. Here is what to do:
1. Scrape away loose paint
Start off by scraping away all of the chipped paint that is coming off, as this will keep coming off and will be a terrible surface on which to paint.
2. Fill in any damaged areas
If there are any damaged areas that cause the surface to be uneven, fill them in. It is important for the surface to be smooth and even before you paint.
Use some sandpaper to sand down the entire surface, to make sure that there are no bits and pieces sticking out!
5. Primer first
Before you paint, use a primer. This will establish a good surface for the paint to adhere to in a more durable manner.
6. Paint!
After you have completed all of the previous steps, you can finally go ahead and paint!
How do you fix chipped paint on a wall?
If you have a wall with chipped paint in need of fixing, you can’t just paint over it and forget about it. Instead, you will have to remove the chipped paint by stripping away all of the loose paint. Then you should repair any damage to the surface, and sand it down until it is smooth and even.
Make sure everything is dry (to avoid the paint from cracking and chipping again), then apply a good primer. This will be a great base upon which to add the new paint, and it will make it far more durable!
And finally, a new coating of paint will give the wall a brand new look, and it will essentially be completely fixed up!
How do you fix paint chips on walls without paint?
If you want to fix paint chips on your walls without the use of paint, there are a few products that can help you out. This is only really recommended if the paint chips are small, and the walls can get away without a whole makeover and re-do of the paint.
Most products will essentially fill in the gaps left by the paint chips, and if they are the same color to the walls, then they won’t need any paint to cover them up!
