Howard County, Painting Contractor

With the record-setting rain we’ve been having here in the Howard County and Anne Arundel County area the last couple of months we thought now would be an ideal time to address the question of whether you can paint over water stains. Let’s start with the basics – if your house has some water stains on the walls or ceilings, you’re not alone! And yes, you can paint over them, BUT, there are a few things you need to do before a water stain can be addressed.

What to Do Before Painting Over Water Stains?

You need to have the place where the water entered repaired. If it is not repaired, or if the repair job is performed poorly, then the water will continue to come in and you will need to paint that spot over and over until the leak is fixed. Fix the leak first, then paint, always.

If the water stains are on your ceiling, then the likeliest issue is a roof leak, probably near a vent, a vent pipe, a chimney, or some other feature where water tends to find a way in. Have a professional roofer address these issues.

If the water stains are near a window or door, it is very likely the fault of deteriorated caulking, faulty wood, or a problem with the door or window itself. We can evaluate and address this for you.

Next, we make sure that the area is dry. If the drywall or plaster is not dry, we will not be able to paint it successfully. You can start by drying up puddles of water with towels, but it’s also a good idea to run a dehumidifier.

If the spot is at all moldy (which would indicate a longer-term leak), then the mold needs to be killed. This is best done professionally because many of the sprays used to kill mold are toxic (to kill the mold) and can be dangerous if not handled carefully. Also, if the mold is bad enough, you may need to replace that section of drywall or plaster. You don’t want to mess with lingering mold!

After this is complete, our next step is to paint the area with a stain-blocking primer. If this is not done you will be able to see the stain through the paint.

Now We Can Paint Over Your Water Stains

Now we’re ready to paint the affected area with a high-quality interior paint. We will probably need to paint the entire affected wall or ceiling, because it is very difficult to paint just a patch and get it to blend well with the rest.

We Paint Interiors and Exteriors in Howard County and Anne Arundel County

If your home has suffered water damage recently, we would be happy to help you get everything fixed and looking perfect again. You can trust us to get the painting done quickly and attractively, but most of all, done right, so that the new paint lasts like it should.

Our House Painting services cover all of Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and beyond! For a free estimate just give us a call.