Paints can make your home look great. It can enhance the value of your home and protect it from water, ultraviolet, and structural pest damage.
Many homeowners don’t realize that exterior painting can be more complex than interior painting because of the many environmental conditions exposed to a home. You might be more likely to have paint problems than you realize. These problems can be solved easily by homeowners. These are the top five most common problems with exterior paint.
Problem: Blistering paint
Blistering paint is characterized by small to medium-sized bubbles and blisters underneath the paint film. It is most common in wood siding and trims. This is usually caused by direct heat or painting on a hot surface. The paint then traps solvent vapor and dries too fast. It can also happen when layers of lacquer are placed on damp surfaces, trapping moisture in between. Low-quality latex paints can also cause it.
Solutions
Sand off any blistered paint and allow it to dry completely. You can also avoid painting the wood in direct sunlight by using high-quality latex paint.
Home ventilation is a problem. It must be fixed to ensure proper ventilation of the walls, roof, and bathrooms.
Problem: Alligatoring & Checking
“Alligatoring” refers to problematic exterior paint due to its “reptile skin” appearance. Checking is a more serious term and refers to large, evenly spaced cracks that appear in paint film.
It can be described as a painting with low relief or depth.Sometimes, checking can become more powerful in certain areas. This may lead to deeper cracks or splits in the paint.
There are several possible causes for Alligatoring or Checking. It could be caused by applying a second coat of paint too soon over an undried primer or coat. Or it may occur because the skins are not compatible (glossy or hard oil enamel over latex-based colors). Oil paints can lose their elasticity, which may lead to cracks due to temperature fluctuations.
Solutions
First, remove the old paint—next, sand and prime. Finally, use high-quality latex paints and flexible latex paints.
Problem: Sagging or Running
Paint failure can be easily identified by a dripping look or drooping appearance to certain areas of the paint film. This could be due to a thick coat of paint. The environment can also have an impact. Paint color can be damaged if applied to poor conditions such as too cold or too high humidity.
Solutions
To evenly distribute the paint, brush or roll the paint if it is still wet. If the paint has dried, you can lightly sand and reapply it.
Problem: Mildew
Mildew is a fungus that feeds on paint film and caulk. It is easily identified by its “splotchy” gray, brown, green, or black spots.
Mildew can be caused by moisture, poor ventilation, and insufficient sunlight. It can also be caused by not priming wood before painting.
Solutions
You can scrub your home with a trisodium-phosphate cleaning solution or a household bleach solution that contains 1 part bleach and three parts water. This DIY method is not only effective at eliminating mildew from the surface but also kills its roots. Allow the solution to sit for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with water. Rinse the area with detergent and rewash it.
Protective gear is essential before you clean mildew.
Problem: Rust discoloration
The problem can be described as rusty, reddish-brown to black stains on the surface of the paint. This can occur for various reasons, including rusting nails, excessive weathering, sanding that has worn away galvanized nail heads, or chemical reaction of Tannic Acid from moist wood with stainless pins.
Solutions
Replace steel nails with stainless steel nails if possible. In this instance, prevention is better than cure. If they are rusting and cannot be removed, you can sand the nail heads to remove them.
Protect the paint by using a primer that is rust-inhibiting and stain-proof.
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