Peeling paint is usually painted over in the wrong order, which is why it peels again by next season. The sequence that lasts: scrape everything loose back to a firm edge, sand the boundary smooth so you can’t feel the step, then find out why it failed. In bathrooms and kitchens the cause is moisture; on exterior walls it’s often water getting behind the paint from a failed caulk line. Painting over the cause guarantees a repeat.
Patch any damaged surface, then prime — bare filler, bare wood, and old glossy paint all need a primer coat or the new paint won’t grip. Only then, topcoat, ideally two thin coats rather than one heavy one.
One caution: in homes built before 1978, assume old paint may contain lead. Don’t dry-sand or scrape it into dust; that job follows different rules.
Small rooms and touch-ups are perfect first-hour jobs. CMG Bridge, Staten Island: $125 covers the first hour, Monday to Saturday.