How to repair bubbling paint near window reveal?

fsj117

Hi Workshop Community,

I have a section of bubbling and cracking paint on the wall right next to my window frame (see picture).

Could you please advise on:

1. What products to use to fill and repair this plasterboard surface?
2. Do I need a specific primer/sealer (like Zinsser) to seal it before painting?
3. The recommended step-by-step DIY process to fix it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

MitchellMc

Hi @fsj117,

I'd start with a little exploratory work by carefully scraping away all the bubbled and loose paint. That will give us a much better idea of the condition of the surface underneath and what preparation will be required.

If it's simply a case of the paint delaminating and the plasterboard underneath is still firm and undamaged, you may only need to feather the edges smooth, apply a suitable primer and repaint. If you discover that the plasterboard has been affected by moisture and the surface is soft or deteriorated, you'll likely need to remove the damaged material, patch the area with filler, sand it smooth, prime and then repaint.

Before repairing it, though, it's important to work out why this has happened. Otherwise, you risk covering up the problem only for the bubbling to return. Given that the damage is immediately beside the window, I'd be particularly suspicious of moisture entering around the window frame or seal.

Once you've removed the loose paint, please feel free to post another photo showing the exposed surface underneath. That should give us a much better idea of what's happening and allow us to recommend the best approach.

Here's a helpful step-by-step guide: How to patch a plaster wall.

Let me tag @BibinNahas, @disco365, @S10985 and @blursquid, who have all been working on their own plasterboard repairs recently, to see if they have any advice.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell