Well, there sure seems to be some “ain’t” in paint, at least for many of us—as in “I ain’t gonna do it!” It’s not the painting, per se, that perturbs us. Nah, that’s the reward for all the pain-in-the-butt prep work that pulls us down.
You gotta admit, however, that when done, painting’s worth it—especially if you are planning to sell your home. The reward is satisfaction and more curb appeal. Because when you put your house on the market, nothing, I mean nothing, will cause more drive-bys than a bad paint job.
So, to help you get past “ain’t” and get to the reward part faster, here are the causes of and solutions for four curb-appeal busters: blistering, cracking and flaking, mildew and wrinkling. The tips are from the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute.
Blistering
Bubbles resulting from localized loss of adhesion and lifting of the paint from the underlying surface.
Possible cause:
• Painting a warm surface in direct sunlight
• Moisture escaping through the exterior walls
• Exposure of latex paint film to dew, high humidity or rain shortly after paint has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface preparation
Solutions:
• If blisters go down to the substrate, try to remove the source of moisture.
• If blisters do not go all the way down to the substrate, remove them by scraping, then sanding. Prime any bare wood and repaint with a quality exterior paint
Cracking and flaking
The splitting of a dry paint film through at least one coat. This can lead to failure of the paint (photo 1). Early, the problem appears as hairline cracks; later, flaking of paint occurs.
Possible causes:
• Over-thinning the paint or spreading it too thin
• Use of a low-quality paint that has inadequate flexibility
• Painting when it is too cold or too warm, the paint will dry too fast
Solutions:
• If the paint is tightly adhered to the surface, lightly feather the edges, prime and paint
• If the cracking is all the way down to the surface, then the paint should be removed. Old, flaking paint may contain lead, so precautions for lead paint should be followed
Mildew
The black, gray or brown areas of fungus growth on the surface of paint and caulk (photo 2).
Possible causes
• Forms most often on areas that tend to be damp and without sunlight
• Use of a low-quality paint, with minimal or no additives to prevent growth
• Painting over a surface where the mildew has not been removed
• Applying paint in "too thin" of a coat
Solutions:
• First test for mildew by applying a few drops of household bleach to the discolored area, then rinse; if fungus disappears, it is probably mildew
• Remove all mildew from the surface by scrubbing with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach, three parts water), wearing proper safety protection, including rubber gloves and eye protection. Power washing is also an option
• Rinse thoroughly, prime bare surfaces and paint
Wrinkling
This problem occurs on a rough, crinkled paint surface when paint forms a “skin.”
Possible causes:
• Paint applied too thickly
• Painting a hot surface, painting on a very hot day, or high humidity levels
• Applying the topcoat to a not completely dried first coat
• Painting over dirty or waxy surfaces
Solutions
• Scrape or sand the surface to remove wrinkled paint
• Repaint with an even coat on top of the line exterior paint. Make sure the first coat or primer is completely dry before applying the second or topcoat
• Always follow the manufacturers recommended spread rate