Housing...Inside and Out

May 19, 2000
Paint Peeling - Is Moisture The Reason?

Peeling paint on the outside of homes is not only unsightly but also costly to scrape, clean and replace. In addition, structural damage may be done to the home due to the same cause as the peeling.

The exact cause of paint peeling is sometimes difficult to determine. In some cases peeling is caused by condensation of moisture on the back surface of the siding. A properly insulated home with a properly installed vapor seal will seldom have peeling paint due to moisture condensation.

If peeling is caused by condensation, the problem may be remedied by improving the effectiveness of the vapor barrier or by increasing the ventilation between the studding in order to evaporate and carry away any excess moisture that is in the wall cavity. Small-screened ventilators can be installed usually at the top and bottom of each stud space in the siding.

In other situations, the source of the moisture can be found and eliminated. An example is to cover the soil in the crawl space with a polyethylene vapor barrier.

For the more complicated paint peeling problems, contact someone who has knowledge and experience in solving this type of problem.


Written by Dr. Francis Graham (Retired)

A black line that separates the body text from footer information