Common House Painting Problems

and Solutions

All exterior and interior paint problems can be avoided or corrected by considering a few things. Any exterior paint job must be started by cleaning, scraping, and repairing the surface. Chalking, blisters, peeling, cracking, and stains must be dealt with before applying a new coat of paint. Unless the cause is discovered and corrected, the problem will reappear and ruin your fresh paint job.

Let’s check out the causes and solutions to some common household paint problems and paint failures.

BLISTERING

Blistering paint is identified by small to medium sized bubbles or blisters under the paint film and is most common on wood siding and trim.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

CAUSES:× Painting in direct sunlight or on a surface

that is too warm, especially when applying a dark-colored solvent-based coating

× Applying an oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp or wet surface

× Excess moisture escaping from inside through the exterior walls

× Exposure of a latex paint film to excessive moisture.

SOLUTIONS: Caulk or re-caulk open joints, check for

roof leaks Apply paint only within recommended

environmental ranges

EFFLORESCENCE

Efflorescence is identifiable by crusty

white salt deposits that bubble

through the paint film from a masonry

structure due to heavy moisture

migrating through exterior walls from

inside the home. Salts in the brick or

concrete become dissolved with water

and then leach to the surface as the

water evaporates.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

CAUSES:× Poor paint surface preparation.× Inadequately waterproofed basement

walls allowing ground water penetration.× Painting masonry construction before

the concrete or mortar had adequately cured and dried out.

× Cracks in masonry wall allowing water to get behind masonry wall.

SOLUTIONS: Remove any prior trace of efflorescence

before repainting Eliminate any sources of moisture Apply a masonry primer or sealer

PEELING PAINT

Peeling paint is a very common paint problem but can be caused either by moisture or poor adhesion. Peeling due to poor adhesion is characterized by the paint peeling and separating from an earlier paint layer (inter-coat peeling) or from the substrate leaving some paint behind. Sometimes portions of earlier paint layers are visible under the curling, peeling paint layer.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

CAUSES:× Penetration of moisture into the home through

uncaulked joints, deteriorated caulk, leaking roof, etc.× Excess humidity or other moisture escaping from within

the home through the exterior walls× Inadequate surface preparation× Applying latex paint under conditions that hinder good

film formation× Applying an oil-based paint over a damp or wet surfaceSolutions: Caulk or re-caulk open joints and check for roof leaks Adequate surface preparation Apply paint within recommended environmental ranges

MILDEW

Mildew is a fungus feeding and growing on the paint film or caulk and is identifiable by its grey, brown, green or dark black "splotchy" spots.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

CAUSES:× Combination of moisture, poor ventilation and lack of

direct sunlight. Underside of soffits and eaves are especially prone to mildew.

× Painting over a surface or prior paint film that still had mildew.

× Use of low quality paint having inadequate mildewcide.× Not priming bare wood before painting.SOLUTIONS: Test for mildew using household bleach Properly treat and prime the surface before applying a

paint or stain Avoid using flat paints and alkyd paints for exterior use

AVOID PAINTING PROBLEMS BY HIRING THE BEST PAINTING CONTRACTOR

If you are planning to paint your home, hiring the trained, experienced and professional painting contractors in King of Prussia from Lawson Painting can help you avoid these common painting problems.

Website : www.lawsonpaintingllc.com Phone : 484-571-5548