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Fix it yourself

Painter repairs you can do yourself

7 painter problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.

You can do
7
Pro-only
0
Typical time
30 min – 10 h
  1. 01

    Ceiling water stain bleeding through paint

    Press the stain: if it is damp or soft, the leak above is still active — find and fix it before any painting.

    easy 30–90 min· $10–30 for a stain-blocking primer

  2. 02

    Garage floor epoxy peeling

    Tape a 60 cm (2-foot) square of plastic to the bare concrete for 24 hours: droplets under it mean moisture is coming up through the slab, and any coating will peel until that is addressed.

    moderate 4–10 h· $150–400 in primer and top coat; grinder rental $80–150/day

  3. 03

    Microcement Hairline Cracks After Curing

    Look at the cracks in raking light and press them: crazing that does not catch a fingernail is in the sealer and finish coat and can be re-skimmed; a crack with a step you can feel has come through from the substrate.

    moderate 2–5 h· $60–150 in finish coat and sealer

  4. 04

    Mildew growing on painted walls

    Ventilate and wear gloves and a mask; wash the wall with a bleach solution or fungicidal wash and leave it 20 minutes before rinsing.

    easy 1–2 h· $15–50 for wash, primer and paint

  5. 05

    Paint bubbling or blistering

    Cut one bubble open: if the wall behind is wet, there is a leak or condensation — solve that first. If it is dry, the paint was applied to a hot, damp, or dusty surface.

    moderate 1–3 h· $15–40 for primer and paint

  6. 06

    Peeling paint

    Find out why it peeled: moisture behind the wall (bathrooms, exterior walls, below windows) or paint applied over a glossy or dirty surface. Fix the moisture first or it will peel again.

    moderate 1–4 h· $20–60 for primer, filler and paint

  7. 07

    Stucco cracking on exterior walls

    Measure the widest cracks with a coin: thinner than a dime's edge (about 1.5 mm) is curing and weather; wider than 3 mm (⅛ inch), stair-stepped, or clustered around one corner is movement.

    easy 1–3 h· $20–60 in caulk, patch and paint

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