If you’ve searched “why is my painting flaking?” “how to restore flaking paint on canvas” or “paint lifting on artwork” you’re not alone. Flaking paint is one of the most common and alarming issues seen in both historic and modern artworks. Understanding the causes and knowing what to do next can make all the difference in preserving your painting.
Above: an oil painting with a severely deteriorating surface, the paint layer was rapidly flaking and discoloured
Noticing your oil painting flaking or lifting from its canvas or panel can be incredibly alarming. Those deepening cracks and curled paint edges aren’t just surface flaws – they’re early warnings that the structure of your artwork is beginning to fail. If ignored, flaking can set off a chain reaction of deterioration, eventually causing entire sections of paint to fall away and leaving the artwork permanently scarred.
In this guide, our conservation team breaks down the most common causes of flaking paint, how you can safeguard your artwork, and the essential steps to take if you’ve already spotted damage. Whether you’re preserving a cherished family heirloom or maintaining a fine art collection, recognizing these early warning signs is key to protecting your painting for the future.
Above: our conservator Sabrina working on a torn painting in need of consolidation to prevent the damaged area from flaking
What Causes A Painting To Flake?
Flaking can affect both historic and contemporary paintings, no matter the medium – oil, acrylic, tempera or mixed media. Paint may start to lift for a variety of reasons: shifts in temperature or humidity, accidental impact or even issues with the original materials and techniques.
The reassuring news is that this type of damage is often preventable. And even if flaking has already started, skilled conservators can stabilize the paint and halt further loss before the artwork suffers irreversible harm.
Above: close up detail of paint lifting from the surface of an artwork
The first steps are to understand why this damage has occurred, this will help you to prevent any further damage whilst you are in the process of seeking professional help. These are some of the most typical reasons behind a flaking painting in our conservation studio:
Natural Aging
As oil paint ages, it can naturally become more brittle, making the surface prone to cracking. Whilst most paintings have a fine layer of cracks known as craquelure, these can deepen and deteriorate due to being kept in an uncontrolled environment in the past or present. Oil paintings may have been exposed to water or fire in the past, with the effects lingering decades or centuries later.
Unstable Materials
Paintings created with unstable or incompatible materials such as poor-quality ground layers, brittle pigments or weak binders are more vulnerable to flaking. These issues are often seen in modern artworks where experimental techniques may not age well. When the foundational layers fail, the paint can no longer adhere properly and begins to lift away from the surface. Below is an example of deterioration caused by modern materials versus natural cracks found on an early renaissance painting.
Environmental Fluctuations
Sudden or repeated changes in humidity and temperature are among the leading causes of flaking paint on canvas. As the environment shifts, the canvas and paint layers expand and contract at different rates. Over time, this movement weakens the bond between layers, causing cracking, lifting and eventual paint loss. Artwork displayed near radiators, fireplaces or windows is especially at risk.
Environmental changes can be seasonal or simply accidental. However, the most severe damage results from artworks that have been exposed to disasters, such as fires, floods and leaks as this results in the most extreme changes in heat and atmospheric moisture.
Above: detail of a painting damaged by water exposure, leading to a warped canvas and flaking paint
Damp, Mold & Water Exposure
Moisture is one of the most destructive forces for artwork. Water damage, mold growth and damp environments can cause canvas fibers to swell, grounds to soften and paint layers to lose adhesion. This often results in bubbling, lifting and widespread flaking. Paintings stored in basements, attics or poorly sealed rooms are particularly vulnerable.
Warping Supports
Warped panels, loose canvas tension or deteriorated stretcher bars can all create movement behind the painting. When the support shifts, the paint layer is forced to move with it or crack apart. Support instability is a frequent cause of flaking in older artworks with fragile wood or weakened canvas fibers.
Above: a torn painting with severe paint loss around the damaged area, before and after restoration
Physical Impact & Accidental Damage
Any direct impact, whether from dropping the painting, bumping it during transport or pressure applied to the back of the canvas, can disrupt the bond between paint and substrate. Even small dents or flexing of the canvas can cause lifting that spreads outward. Accidental damage often leads to sudden or isolated areas of paint flaking.
Previous Repairs & Overcleaning
Past repairs that were not conducted with modern conservation techniques, such as the use of harsh cleaning methods, wax-filled tears or thickly applied retouching, can significantly weaken a painting. Unoriginal materials may age at a different rate to the painting and deteriorate, shrink, become brittle or lose adhesion, pulling original paint with them. Overcleaning can also thin or destabilize the paint layer, making flaking more likely.
Above: a modern painting with a deteriorating surface, before and after our conservation treatments
How to Prevent Flaking Paint
Keeping your painting stable and preventing flaking is all about controlling the environment and handling the artwork with care. Here are 5 conservation-approved ways to protect your painting before damage begins:
1. Maintain Stable Temperature and Humidity
Fluctuations in humidity and temperature are the most common triggers for cracking and lifting paint. Aim to display and store artwork in a room kept around 64 to 72°F with a relative humidity of 45–55%. Avoid placing paintings near radiators, fireplaces, windows or exterior doors, these areas experience extreme shifts that can stress the paint layers.
2. Keep Artwork Out of Direct Sunlight
Direct heat and UV light can cause paint, varnish and canvas fibers to dry out and become brittle. Over time, this accelerates cracking and leads to flaking. Always hang artwork away from direct sunlight and consider using UV-filtering glass or acrylic glazing for added protection.
Above: our conservator stabilising and retouching a heavily cracked oil painting to prevent future flaking and paint loss
3. Handle Paintings with Care
Even slight impacts or pressure from behind the canvas can cause paint to lift. Always move paintings by holding both sides of the frame with clean dry hands, never by the top edge. When transporting or storing artwork, protect it with acid-free materials and avoid stacking paintings together.
4. Avoid Damp Storage Areas
Basements, attics, garages and garden rooms are high-risk spaces for moisture, mold and temperature swings, all of which can cause the paint layer to separate from its support. Store paintings in climate-controlled indoor rooms whenever possible.
5. Schedule Routine Conservation Check-Ups
Just like any valuable object, paintings benefit from periodic professional inspection. Conservators can spot early signs of cracking or instability long before they become visible to the untrained eye. A routine check can prevent minor issues from turning into major losses.
Flaking Painting Restoration Techniques
Restoring a painting with flaking paint is a highly skilled process that must be carried out by trained conservators. The goal is to stabilize the paint layer, prevent further loss and preserve the artwork’s original appearance.
Our conservators begin with a detailed examination under magnification and raking light to identify where the paint is lifting, what is causing the instability and whether the support, ground layer or older restoration materials are contributing to the problem. This step ensures the safest possible treatment plan.
Above: our conservator assessing the surface of an oil painting that was salvaged from a fire damaged property
To secure lifting paint, conservators use a specialist adhesive. Using a syringe, the adhesive is introduced beneath the lifting flakes. Gentle heat or controlled pressure is then applied to re-adhere the paint to its support. If old varnish layers are contributing to the flaking or making the surface appear dull and uneven, conservators may carefully remove them using tailored cleaning solutions. This step is performed with extreme precision to ensure the original paint is never disturbed.
Above: the surface is stabilised and retouched around a torn area to prevent further paint loss
Areas where paint has already been lost can be filled with a conservation-grade material and then visually integrated using retouching techniques. Conservators match colors precisely, applying small amounts of pigment so the restored area blends seamlessly without covering any of the artist’s original brushstrokes.
Finally, a fresh layer of UV-stable, reversible varnish is applied to protect the painting and even out the surface sheen. This varnish shields the artwork from future environmental stress and ensures that any future conservation work can be performed safely.
Above: a flaking landscape painting before and after treatment by our conservation team
Find Out More
Email our expert team via info@fineart-restoration.com or fill out the form below for a free painting restoration quote from our conservators.
Fine Art Restoration Company proudly serves clients throughout the U.S. offering professional painting restoration services for museums, collectors and homeowners.
