How to Prevent Acrylic Paint from Peeling

Acrylic paint mainly peels due to improper surface or surface preparation, incorrect application techniques, and unfavorable environmental conditions. 

If the surface isn’t clean or primed, the paint may not adhere well. Applying thick layers without sufficient drying time, exposure to high humidity and temperature changes can all cause peeling. As such, using incorrect materials and not sealing the finished artwork can exacerbate the issue. 

When you think about How To Prevent Acrylic Paint from Peeling, it’s important to pick the right surface material and prepare it appropriately, as well as protect the artwork as much as possible from temperature changes by storing it in a cool, dry place, and from yellowing and other types of damage with the help of varnish.

Proper Surface Preparation

A Clean Surface is a Good Surface

In general you should always aim to have a dust-free, non-greasy surface as best practice no matter what materials you are using. If there are any residues the paint will not adhere properly and the acrylic could peel within months.

Methods for Preparing Different Types of Surfaces

If not done correctly, the process could take longer or require more energy as you may need to apply more coats of painting. You will need to do different types of prepping as well as cleaning depending on the surface you are using mainly based on their porosity. Here are some examples:

• Paper: Seal with a gloss medium & varnish or matte medium to prevent absorption, then apply gesso for tooth.
• Fabric: Wash to remove sizing or starch, test for compatibility, and optionally use Flow-Aid Flow Enhancer or fabric medium.
• Canvas: Note that there are many types of canvas, so we recommend you take a look at the specific one you are working with. Apply gesso after stretching, sand between coats for smoothness, and use multiple coats for a smoother finish.
• Acetate: Use matte or wet-media acetate, not smooth acetate, for better adhesion.
• Compressed Hardboards (Masonite): Sand, seal with barrier varnish, and apply two coats of gesso.
• Fiberglass: Sand/sandblast, apply industrial primer-sealer, then spray or brush gesso.
• Foam Board: Lightly sand and apply one or two coats of gesso, sanding between coats.
• Masonry and Concrete: Ensure surface is dry and trowel on Matte Gel Medium, followed by gesso.
• Metal and Glass: Sand or sandblast, apply industrial primer, and coat with gesso after testing for adhesion.
• Murals: Ensure the wall is clean and structurally sound, then refer to mural-specific techniques.
• Mylar: Use wet-media Mylar for no prep needed; otherwise, sand lightly for better adhesion.
• Plasterboard: Sand, wipe clean, apply acrylic sealer undercoat, and finish with two coats of acrylic topcoat.
• Plastic Panels (Plexiglas): Sand, then coat with Matte Medium or Matte Gel Medium, followed by gesso.
• Plywood: Apply 2-5 coats of gesso, sanding between layers, after securing plywood to stretcher bars if needed.
• Unusual Surfaces: Test for compatibility, and follow general adhesion and prep guidelines based on surface type.

Does the Quality of the Materials Matter When it Comes to Peeling?

Peeling is generally not caused by the quality of the paint, but rather issues with the prep of the surface you are using to paint or issues with the binder itself, so it would be irresponsible of me to recommend specific brands or products for this specific point. It is worth noting that we are talking about acrylic paint for artistic purposes; there are some issues when using acrylic copolymer paint which is for outdoor use.

However, using a softer brush and a gentler application can prevent lifting paint caused by a bristly brush or rough application, leaving a more even layer of acrylic paint.

Optimal Painting Techniques to Avoid Acrylic Paint Peeling

Cleaning your surface from dust, sanding and priming it are fundamental to improve the adhesion of acrylic paint. However, here are some tips you can follow to reduce the chances of acrylic paint peeling if you are working with an unconventional surface:

• If unconventional, try to sand it a little to give some porosity: Above you have an idea on how to prep different materials for acrylic paint.
• Allow layers to dry properly: Allowing layers to dry will harden the acrylic paint and help with adherence. Some people use a hair dryer between layers.
• Techniques for layering paint: This will depend on your personal preference, but performing a good layering will also improve your chances of a best finish. Thaneeya recommends painting in thin-to-medium layers rather than one thick layer if you are trying to cover a large area, but it depends on your style.
• Avoid over-thinning the paint: Adding too much water will remove the bond between the binder and the pigments, which will greatly reduce adherence.
• Find alternatives to water for thinning acrylic paint: If you really want to dilute your acrylics, you can use a glazing medium instead.

Environmental Considerations

Temperature and Humidity

While high temperatures can make acrylic paint become soft and tacky, low temperatures can make the paint brittle, leading to both cracking and peeling. An excess of moisture in the air can affect adhesion while low humidity could cause the paint to dry too quickly, leading to a weaker bond with the surface. Ideally you would be able to avoid extremes; you can use a dehumidifier, a fan or a heater depending on your needs. 

Good to know: For waterborne acrylics, the recommendations range from above 49°F / 9°C as a minimum and below 95°F / 35°C throughout the painting process. This is just an estimate from some lovely Australians who happen to have harsher weather. I suppose it would be the same in Jakarta!

Storage and Handling

This is a beautiful object I would try and buy if I even had the space in my tiny house!

Art Storage Rack, Art Canvas Storage, Art Drying Rack

Last update on 2024-08-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I have no tips for this as this is a problem I currently have. But if you have many canvases laying around, it would be good if you centralized them in one place until you have decided where they go, or when they are sold – this way you can check them all together, at a safe distance, in one single look. 

Preventative Maintenance starts with a Good Physical Finishing

Apply a Varnish When You Have Finished Using Acrylics Paints

This is when you have made sure that you are happy with the result and will not wish to add more acrylic paint layers. No matter what you do next, test a patch.

• How to Put Varnish on Acrylic Painting (WikiHow ain’t broken yet, alright?)
• Preventing Discoloration in Films of Acrylic Artists’ Media by Exposure to Ambient Light – where they confirmed with a monitored research that Varnish Does Help With Delaying Yellowness by at least two years.
• How to Clean an Acrylic Painting.
• Ella Martin’s more graceful Quora post that I just found while doing some research to hit you with facts! 

Final Words: Know Your Materials

The number one way in which you can prevent peeling, and pretty much any other problem when it comes to maintaining the quality of your painting, is by doing your best in understanding how materials interact with one another.

If Your Surface is Glossy then Yes, Your Acrylic May Peel

Always use a surface porous enough for your acrylic paint to be able to dry appropriately. Acrylic paint tends to be very solid once dried – it is more likely to crack than to melt.

Read: A simple “it’s the surface” answer from Paintingtips-Net.

And of course, watch “Peeling Off Dried Acrylic Paint”, and notice how easy it peels on a glossy surface: