Under the intense exposure to bright sun, frequent rain and drastic temperature changes, the paint covering the exterior siding and trimming surfaces face some of the most challenging conditions. Modern paint chemistry makes the paints of today remarkably adept at handling these situations, and the surfaces of the house that once required painting every two or three years may now sometimes go on for a decade before they need repainting. But under certain situations — or when the preparation or implementation was less than ideal — there are a lot of common problems with exterior paint jobs. Identifying the origins and solutions to these common problems will help you quickly address them and avoid them in the future.
Blistering Paint
Blistering paint is one of the common paint problems, you can find small to medium-sized bubbles or blisters under a paint film. It's most commonly seen on siding and trimming with wood.
Causes
- The paint was applied to a warm surface in bright sun, which trapped solvent vapor because the paint was drying too quickly.
- The paint was applied while the wood was wet, allowing the film to be expanded by trapped moisture.
- Dew, rain or very high moisture penetrated after drying of latex paint
- Owing to inadequate ventilation of the building the moisture escaped through the walls.
Repair & Prevention
- Scrape away blister paint and sand to bare wood. Before painting, let the wood dry absolutely.
- Try to sand, prime & paint in non-direct sunlight.
- Use premium latex paint.
- If there is a lack of home ventilation, corrective repairs must be made to properly ventilate the house walls, roofs, bathrooms, etc.
- Inspect any damaged or incomplete caulking around windows and doors and repair them.
- Try to provide ventilation at the siding.
Alligatoring
Alligatoring is a form of paint film failure in which the surface develops a deeply relieved cracked pattern, resembling the skin of a reptile.
Causes
- The second coat of paint was applied over the first coat of primer which had not yet been fully dried.
- The second layer of the painting was applied over an incompatible paint, such as a glossy paint over a latex paint
- Naturally, oil-based paint has aged and lost its elasticity leading to cracks due to temperature variations.
Repair & Prevention
- Remove the old paint, then the sand, prime, and paint it again using flexible latex paint.
- Use premium latex paint.
Checking
Checking is similar to alligatoring, but less extreme and is distinguished in the paint film by long, relatively uniformly spaced cracks, with shallow relief or depth. In some cases, checking can sometimes become serious, resulting in a deeper crack or split in the paint.
Causes
- Natural aging occurred with multiple layers of older oil-based paint. As the material that was painted (usually wood) contracts and expands over time, the paint has to move, and it checks as it loses elasticity.
Repair & Prevention
- Remove the old paint, then the sand, prime, and paint it again using flexible latex paint.
- Use premium latex paint.
To overcome these common exterior paint problems, hire a Professional Painter in Connecticut.
