Grill Too Close to the House? It Might Be Bubbling Your Paint

02 Jul Grill Too Close to the House? It Might Be Bubbling Your Paint

Summer’s here! The burgers are sizzling, the scent of charcoal fills the air, and suddenly you notice bubbles in the paint on your nearby home’s exterior! Yes, this can happen to a painted wall!

If your grill is positioned too close to your siding, you might be cooking up more than dinner. And, of course, the dangers of starting a fire from a grill that’s too close to a wall!

What Causes Exterior Paint to Bubble?

Paint bubbling (aka blistering) happens when the paint film lifts from the surface underneath. There are several reasons this can happen, but the most common are heat, moisture, or both.

Place a hot grill too close to an exterior wall, and the temperature of your painted siding can soar to levels that paint was never meant to withstand, especially if the paint hasn’t fully cured or if moisture was already trapped underneath.

Left untreated, those bubbles can eventually peel, exposing your siding to the elements and turning a small eyesore into a big headache – and potentially an expensive issue.

Usual Causes for Bubbling Paint:

• Skipping primer on fresh joint compound or stained areas
• Painting in hot, humid weather
• Painting a damp or dirty surface
• Using oil-based paint over latex without proper prep
• Letting moisture hit the paint too soon after drying

How to Avoid Grill-Induced Paint Damage:

• Keep your grill at least 3 feet (preferably more) away from your home’s exterior walls
• The exterior surface should be dry and clean before it’s painted
• The painter should use high-quality exterior primer and paint
• Avoid exterior painting on hot days or in direct hot sunlight
• Paint should be fully cured before being exposed to heat or moisture

How to Fix Bubbling Paint:

This isn’t a straightforward problem to fix, so we recommend hiring a painting contractor to do the work. If the bubbles don’t go all the way to the siding, you’re in luck; you could scrape, sand, prime, and repaint.

If the paint bubbles go deeper—or you suspect there’s surface damage beneath the bubbles—you’ll need to eliminate the source of the heat or moisture (relocate that grill!) before repairing the paint. And call a painting professional to address the paint bubbles!

Bottom line: Grilling is great, but don’t let it sear your paint job!

Mike Katounas