Why Is My Paint Dripping?
Paint drips are usually caused by applying too much paint to your project in a single coat, typically from using an overloaded paintbrush or roller. Using a paint roller too fast across a wall can cause multiple paint drips, and a heavily loaded roller will cause streaks that do not go away once the paint is dry.
Gravity causes excess paint to run, and as it begins to dry, the paint congeals in visible drips. Similarly, gravity causes paint on the ceiling to drip if not spread on the surface adequately.
Another factor causing paint drips is high humidity. A humid environment tends to slow paint's drying time, allowing it to drip before thoroughly drying.
Before You Begin
To help find drips while wet, set up a strong light source almost parallel to the surface to highlight drips as they happen. Often called a "raking" light, this light type is a utility lamp that sits on the ground or a clamp on a pole, ladder, or other object and will shine directly onto the wall or thing you are painting at an oblique angle. The light highlights the shadows and raised spots to spot the drip immediately. It also helps you to find dry drips, as well.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Paintbrush
- Clean scraper, razor blade, or 5-in-1 tool
- Putty knife
- Small drywall knife
Materials
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Glazing putty
How to Stop Paint From Dripping
Clean up Drips on Wet Paint
If you catch the dripping paint while it is still relatively wet, you can probably fix the paint drip by brushing it out. Try a few brush strokes and see what happens. Stop brushing if this does not affect the drip or the paint feels tacky—the paint is already too dry, and additional brushing exaggerates the problem.
Let the Paint Dry
If the paint is tacky to the touch, it's best to let it (and the surrounding area) drip dry entirely before trying to remedy the problem. If the paint is still damp, it may peel up when you scrape or sand it, creating an even bigger problem.
Scrape or Sand the Drip
A paint drip creates a raised area highlighted by the paint's shininess. Therefore, the first step after the paint has dried is to cut down or sand the raised area with an appropriate grit sandpaper. Start lightly scraping down the drip with a clean scraper, razor blade, or 5-in-1 tool. The less you disturb the surrounding area, the better.
After you've removed the raised portion of the drip, try sanding out the remaining blemish with 220-grit sandpaper. Sand only in the direction of the drip; sanding back and forth or in the opposite direction causes the paint to gum up or flake away, leaving you with a bigger blemish. Take care to sand only the drip itself, avoiding the surrounding paint.
Repair Any Damage
You might scrape or sand too deeply into the paint despite your best efforts if there's a recessed area where the drip was or any other damage due to your repair efforts, you can fill the area with glazing putty, such as Bondo.
Spread on the putty with a putty knife, then scrape off the excess with a small drywall knife. Let the putty dry, then sand as directed.
Repaint the Area
Once the drip has been flattened, apply another coat or two of paint. Once the paint dries, the blemish should be barely noticeable.
-
Are paint drips normal?
Paint drips are common but preventable when paint is applied correctly and carefully.
-
Does humidity make paint drip?
Humidity can make the paint drip, cause paint to dry longer, and cause problems with the paint bonding to the surface.
-
At what temperature does paint dry best?
Paint dries best best between 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.