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Why paint matters for adhesive wall hangers

On Friday, just as we were closing, I received an urgent message from a client, DLZ INTERIORS Inc., a commercial and residential design firm. They had recently installed metal prints at a customer’s location using our 1″ thick floating blocks, aiming to impress investors at an upcoming meeting. Everything looked perfect, and the customer was thrilled with the result—until two of the prints fell to the ground, damaging one of the expensive pieces.

Rather than placing blame, our client reached out for advice on how to resolve the issue. To understand the root cause and prevent it from happening again, I asked a series of questions to get to the bottom of the mishap.

  1. Was firm pressure applied during installation? Yes.
  2. Was the wall properly cleaned before applying the adhesive blocks? Yes.
  3. Did the adhesive separate from the print backing or the wall? The wall.
  4. Did any adhesive remain on the block or transfer to the wall? Neither.

Neither? That caught my attention. It turned out that the adhesive block had pulled the paint layer away from the wall.

This was the critical clue. I learned the wall had a fresh coat of paint, which likely wasn’t fully bonded to the surface. This can happen for several reasons: the wall might not have been prepped properly, preventing the paint from adhering fully; there could have been an air pocket under the paint; or a thick layer of paint may not have fully cured before the blocks were installed. Any of these could cause the paint to peel under the weight of the print.

This situation highlights why it’s essential to ensure walls are well-prepped and cured when hanging prints or other heavy décor.

To quickly resolve the issue before the client’s important meeting, I recommended reapplying the adhesive blocks, but this time directly on the area where the paint had already separated. This way, the blocks would attach to the more stable underlying layer, securing the prints effectively

Here are the main reasons your paint is failing on your wall:

  • Improper surface preparation

If the wall isn’t cleaned, sanded, or primed before painting, the paint may not stick properly. 

  • Surface contamination

Dirt, oil, grease, and polish residue can prevent paint from bonding with the wall. 

  • Using the wrong type of paint

Some paints are formulated for specific surfaces or rooms, and using the wrong type can cause poor adhesion. 

  • Applying paint in the wrong thickness

Applying paint too thickly can cause it to sag or drip, while applying it too thinly may not provide enough coverage. 

  • Using expired paint

Expired paint can become too thin and lose its ability to stick to the wall. 

  • Using poor quality paint

Low-quality paints may not have the right adhesion properties. 

  • Moisture

Moisture can get into the wall through a leaking ceiling or window, or a wall cavity, and then escape through the paint.