Paint Peeling on Your Home’s Exterior: Here’s What You Need to Know

Joel Gotshall | Posted on July 6, 2025 |

If you’ve spotted peeling paint on the outside of your home, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating to invest time and money into having a home that looks sharp, only to see the paint bubble, crack, or flake off a few short years later. For homeowners in Myrtle Beach, this problem comes up more often than you’d think. The salty air, high humidity, and long stretches of sun can do a number on exterior paint over time, even if the paint was applied not that long ago.

Peeling paint isn’t just a cosmetic issue, either. Once that outer layer starts to lift, it exposes surfaces underneath to moisture and sun, which can lead to even costlier problems like wood rot or mold. If you live near the coast, like in Myrtle Beach, the chances of seeing this type of damage grow with every passing season. But figuring out what caused it is the first step toward fixing it and preventing it from coming back.

Causes Of Exterior Paint Peeling

Weather plays a big role in how long exterior paint holds up, especially in coastal spots like Myrtle Beach. Between bursts of heavy rain, high humidity, and strong sun, paint endures a lot. These elements can slowly strip away its durability, especially if the type of paint used wasn’t made to handle these conditions.

Let’s look at what usually causes this kind of peeling:

Weather exposure: In Myrtle Beach, sun and salty air pound the exterior of homes almost year-round. Constant exposure breaks down the paint’s surface. Over time, you’ll notice parts around doors, windows, or trim starting to blister or flake. Summer heat, especially in July, can expand walls and dry out paint faster, leading to cracks and separation.
Poor surface preparation: If the surface wasn’t cleaned, sanded, or primed the right way before the paint was applied, it won’t stick very well. Dirt, old paint residue, or lingering moisture underneath a fresh coat can cause early peeling. Skipping proper prep is usually the quickest way to get peeling results.
Incompatible paint layers: When you put one type of paint over another that doesn’t mix, things go downhill fast. For example, layering latex over oil-based paint without priming can prevent adhesion. Think of it like trying to stick tape on a dusty wall. It eventually falls off.
Age of paint: Paint fades and breaks down over time. Older layers lose grip, especially if they’ve been exposed to heat or moisture for years. In many Myrtle Beach homes, paint applied more than five to seven years ago might already be showing signs of wear, depending on the material it’s covering.

Any of these issues, or a mix of them, can cause your exterior paint to pull away from your home’s surface. The good news is that once you know the source, there’s a way to move forward.

Immediate Steps To Address Peeling Paint

When you see paint starting to peel, the goal is to stop the damage from spreading. Even if you plan to hire someone to handle a full paint job, there are a few things worth checking right away so you can limit the fallout and prepare for the next step.

Here are a few things homeowners in Myrtle Beach can do as soon as they notice peeling:

Identify affected areas: Walk around the home and take note of any peeling, cracking, or bubbling. Check wooden trim, window frames, soffits, and areas where water seems to land often. This helps you understand how widespread the issue is and where it’s starting.
Control moisture around the house: Look for anything contributing to moisture buildup, like leaky gutters or clogged downspouts. Make sure sprinklers aren’t hitting your siding. Moisture is one of the top triggers for peeling, so cutting that off helps stop further harm.
Temporary protection: If a spot looks like it’s getting worse fast, like peeling directly over bare wood, you can cover it with waterproof tape or tarp to protect it until you’re ready to have it repainted properly. It’s not a fix, but it helps keep moisture out until help arrives.

Quick checks and small steps like these can protect your siding and buy you time. Just keep in mind that once peeling starts, it rarely stops on its own. Tackling the root cause is the only way to make sure it doesn’t come right back.

Long-Term Solutions To Prevent Peeling

Once peeling paint has been identified and stabilized, it’s time to focus on long-term fixes. The climate in Myrtle Beach can be rough on exterior paint. High humidity, strong sun, and salty air all wear away at a home’s exterior. That’s why getting it right during the prep and paint stages matters a lot more than people think.

One big mistake is rushing to repaint without first dealing with the cause of the peeling. If you skip prep work, even high-end paint won’t last. In Myrtle Beach summer heat, surfaces can hold onto moisture. If that moisture is trapped under new paint, peeling usually comes back within a year.

Here’s how homeowners near the coast can protect their homes for years to come:

Clean the surface thoroughly: Power washing isn’t enough. Dirt, mildew, and old paint flakes need to be completely removed. This gives the new paint a clean foundation to stick to.
Sand rough or uneven areas: Sanding smooths out blistered spots and helps primer and paint grab onto the surface better. It also helps if the old paint job was uneven or layered incorrectly.
Apply a high-quality primer: Skipping primer is risky. Primers seal porous surfaces and give finish coats something solid to bond with, which is key in humid areas like Myrtle Beach.
Choose the right paint for the climate: Always use exterior paint that is marked for high-humidity or coastal environments. These paints resist cracking, fading, and peeling far better than budget options.
Paint during the right weather window: Painting in extreme heat or humidity can cause the paint to dry too fast or not bond at all. It’s best to start work early in the day when temperatures and dew points are lower.

With the right process and professional help, peeling paint doesn’t have to keep coming back. Taking the time to do it properly the first time spares homeowners the hassle and cost of frequent repaints.

Routine Maintenance Keeps Paint Looking New

Once your home has a fresh coat of paint, staying ahead of wear and tear becomes part of the plan. Exterior paint won’t last forever, especially in a coastal zone like Myrtle Beach, so keeping it looking good means catching small issues before they spread.

Don’t wait until major peeling shows up again. Simple check-ins a couple of times a year can help prevent small cracks or chips from spreading:

Inspect after heavy storms: Strong winds and rain can cause damage, especially around trim, gutters, and porch railings.
Spray off dirt and salt: A quick rinse with a garden hose goes a long way in removing buildup that can damage paint.
Trim back overgrown bushes: Foliage brushing against painted surfaces traps moisture and speeds up breakdown.
Re-caulk seams or openings: Over time, caulk around windows and doors can crack. Keeping it sealed helps keep moisture out of areas where paint can fail first.
Touch up problem spots: If a small chip does appear, patching and sealing it quickly helps keep the rest of the surface protected.

Think of maintenance like changing the oil in your car. It may not seem urgent, but skipping it always catches up later. Doing these small, seasonal tasks makes a big difference when you’re trying to extend the life of your exterior paint in Myrtle Beach.

Protecting Your Home for the Long Haul

Peeling paint is more than an eyesore. It’s often the first sign that your home’s protective barrier is wearing down. In Myrtle Beach, with so much moisture in the air and strong sun beating down from early spring through late fall, houses go through a lot each year. Understanding why paint fails, how to slow it down, and what steps really work in the long run can help you avoid headaches down the road.

No matter the age or size of your home, it pays to approach repainting with a long-term mindset. Clearing away buildup, picking paints that hold up in sea air, keeping up with seasonal touch-ups—these are the habits that pay off over time.

And when peeling paint starts to show, acting fast can help prevent lasting damage. Whether your home’s siding is wood, Hardie board, or stucco, the problems usually start small. Catch them early, take the right steps to correct them, and you’ll get more time out of every paint job.

Wrap up the challenges of maintaining your home’s exterior by turning to experts who understand the specific needs of homes in coastal areas. Discover how our exterior paint services in Myrtle Beach can help protect and beautify your home against the harsh climate. At Paint Rx, we’re committed to providing long-lasting solutions that keep your property looking its best.