You need to figure out why your ceiling paint is peeling before you can repaint it.
Peeling ceiling paint can be frustrating, especially if you are not sure why the paint is peeling. While there are certain things that can cause any paint to fail, ceiling paints are subject to unique conditions. Air at the ceiling level is warmer and contains more moisture. Older homes may also have problems with special paints that were used in early 20th-century construction techniques. Once you figure out the cause of the peeling, you can take steps to ensure it won't happen again after you repaint it.
Moisture
Moisture can penetrate beneath the paint and cause the paint to crack and peel. Moisture can come from a variety of sources, including humidifiers, hot tubs, cooking, showering and doing laundry. A poorly insulated attic can also lead to ceiling moisture problems. Installing exhaust fans in your attic, kitchen and bathroom can help reduce the moisture problem. Identify and correct the cause of the moisture before attempting to correct the peeling ceiling.
Surface Preparation
If the paint is peeling from a previous layer of paint, the problem is probably caused by something in the surface that is preventing the paint from binding. This can be prevented by properly preparing the surface. Clean the surface to remove any dirt or grease. Next, use a good-quality primer, especially if you're not sure what type of paint was used on the ceiling in the past. Primers are designed to adhere to both the surface and to any additional paint layers. If you attempt to apply oil-based paint over a layer of latex paint without using a primer, the paint will peel.
Painting Time
Most primers have specific "recoat times" that you must follow, or the paint will peel. The recoat time is the amount of drying time the primer needs before it can be painted. Some primers also have a "critical recoat time" or "maximum ." This is the amount of time during which the primer will stick to the paint. After this time, the primer loses its ability to adhere to the paint. This time varies, depending on the primer.
Calcimine
If you live in an older home that was built in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the problem is most likely due to calcimine paint. Calcimine paint was commonly used during this time because it dried fast and was easy to use. It is made from calcium carbonate, a chalky powder that causes paint to blister and peel off. Your only option is to remove the calcimine, using water, TSP and steam, and then repaint the ceiling.
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