Aqueous wax emulsion as paint primer and paint repair adhesive

A method of improving the adhesion and durability of a paint coating, comprising the steps of:

• applying an aqueous wax emulsion to at least a portion of an architectural surface, wherein said aqueous wax emulsion comprises between 2% and 50% by weight of at least one water-dispersible microparticulate wax whose melting point is between 50.degree. C. and 100.degree. C., at least one emulsifier, wherein the total concentration of said at least one emulsifier is at least sufficient to stabilize said aqueous wax emulsion but is less than that concentration which would render the dried aqueous wax emulsion coating re-dispersible in water, and between 40% and 98% by weight water,
• wherein said aqueous wax emulsion is applied beneath a paint overcoating and said aqueous wax emulsion is allowed to dry before applying said paint overcoating, or said paint coating is a deteriorated paint coating and said aqueous wax emulsion penetrates cracks and penetrates beneath peeling paint thereby sealing said cracks and re-adhering said peeling paint.