Ceiling Wrinkles After Painting

Environment

• The optimal conditions for painting are cooler, dryer days. Paint may dry unevenly in a room that is very warm or excessively humid. If the uppermost paint layer dries before the paint below has had time to adhere to the surface, it will cause the paint to pucker and wrinkle.

Wash the Ceiling Before Painting

• Paint surfaces must be clean and dry before paint is applied. If any dirt, wax or oil remains, it prevents the paint from bonding with the surface. Kitchen and bathroom walls and ceilings may be coated with a thin layer of oil from cooking or beauty products. Paint manufacturers generally recommend washing walls and ceilings before painting, but some homeowners skip this step in a rush to begin the project.

Primer Application

• In most cases, a good quality primer should be applied prior to painting. The manufacturer of the primer lists drying times on the label. Rushing the job may result in paint failure since the primer needs time to cure before paint is applied over it.

Paint Application

• Applying paint too heavily can cause paint wrinkling. Ceiling paint is slightly thicker than other types of paint to inhibit drips during application. Stir the paint well prior to applying. The paint roller should be well coated with paint but not be coated so thickly that it is saturated and dripping.

Preventing Ceiling Wrinkles

• If possible, choose a day when the weather is not hot or humid to repaint. Wrinkled paint can't be fixed butt be scraped off of the ceiling with a scraper. Sand the surface lightly after scraping, and coat the ceiling with a quality primer, allowing it to dry thoroughly before applying paint. You'll want to apply the paint in two thin layers rather one thick layer. Ventilating the room after painting will encourage the paint to dry evenly.