peeling year after year

handifoot · 03-24-2010, 10:55 PM

I'm going crazy. We bought this house built in 1950 in 2003. Paint was coming off of the cedar clapboards in broad sheets at that time. We scraped off all of the loose paint, sanded the edges smooth and used an oil primer over everything, bare wood as well as the paint that seemed to be in ok shape.

We then painted with a latex exterior paint, (brush and roller). Deal is, each year we get a fair amount of bubbling and peeling on the south, west and east exposures.

The north never seems to be problematic.

So we scrape the loose stuff year after year and repeat the process. Something's not right. Someone told my wife that if the cedar was not treated correctly from the start that it will never have paint stick well. I hope that's not true. Anyone ever heard or a primer called peel check? If so, is it any good?

Thank you for any input

ratherbefishin' · 03-25-2010, 12:12 AM

Zinsser Peel Stop or XIM Peel Bond should cure your problem.

**oh'mike** · 03-25-2010, 07:08 AM

Often the paint failure is caused by moisture working its way through the wood from the back.

In a 1950's house the likely cause is poor insulation and vapor barrier.

My folks house had the same problem--south wall near the kitchen and bath--every year--pealing and blisters.--Mike--

I'm not a painter--Ratherbefiskin' s suggestion sounds good--Zinsser,s primers have always done well for me.---M--

handifoot · 03-25-2010, 10:54 AM

Judging from what I have seen, the outside walls have no insulation in them. My interior walls are very thick and dense, 1/2" gyp-lath with 1/2" plaster.

I believe my original primer was a Zinsser product but only what I could buy at the big box place. So, you think the peel stop or the peel bond stuff would still work, or would I just be throwing good money after bad?

**oh'mike** · 03-25-2010, 11:31 AM

It won't cost you much to use the fancy primer and repaint---I'd give it a shot.

The insulation of an existing house is a lot of money--That may not be in the budget for this year.

oarfish · 03-25-2010, 07:45 PM

I have seen a few houses like yours and it seams that it will always peel right next to the area that was just peeling at the last paint job.
It will likely to keep doing this until all the original coat is gone.
Some don't like siding but at times it makes sence.