Brumalia Hardware Limited Tools & Tips
Efflorescence / Mottling
Crusty, white salt deposits, leached from mortar or masonry as water passes through it.
- Failure to adequately prepare surface by removing all previous efflorescence.
- Excess moisture escaping through the exterior masonry walls from behind.
If excess moisture is the cause, eliminate the source by repairing the foof, cleaning out gutters and downspouts, and sealing any cracks in the masonry with a high quality, water- based all-acrylic or siliconises acrylic caulk. If moist air is originating inside the building, consider installing vents or exhaust fans, especially in kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas. Remove the efflorescence and all other loose material with a wire brush or power washer; than throughly rinse the surface. Apply a quality water-based or solvent- based masonry sealer or primer, and allow it to dry completely; then apply a coat of top quality exterior house paint, masonry paint or elastomeric wall coating.
Cracking / Flaking
The splitting of a dry paint film through at least one coat, which will lead to complete failure of the paint. Early on, the problem appears as hairline cracks; later, flaking of paint chips occurs.
- Use of a lower quality that has inadequate adhesion and flexibility.
- Over-thinning the paint or spreading it too thin. Poor surface preparation, especially when the paint is applied to bare wood without priming.
- Painting under cool or windy conditions that make latex paint dry too fats.
It may be possible to correct cracking that does not go down to the substrate by removing the loose or flaking paint with a scraper or wire brush, sanding to feather the edges, priming any bare spots and repainting. If the cracking goes down to the substrate remove all of the paint by scraping, sanding and/or use of a heat gun; then prime and repaint with a quality exterior latex paint.
Chalking
Formation of fine powde on the surface of the paint film during weathering which can cause colour fading. Although some degree of chalking is a normal, desirable way for a paint film to wear, excessive film erosion can result from heavy chalking.
- Use of a low- grade, highly pigmented paint.
- Use of an interior paint for an outdoor application.
First, remove as much of the chalk residue as possible, scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush ( or wire brush on a masonry) and then rinse thoroughly; or use power washing equipment. Check for any remaining chalk by running a hand over the surface after it dries.If noticeable chalk is stillpresent, apply a quality oil-based or acrylic latex primer ( or comparable sealer for masonry), then reprint with a quality exterior coating; if little or no chalk remains and the old paint is sound, no priming is necessary.
Blistering
Bubbles resulting from localized loss of adhesion and lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface.
- Painting a warm surface in direct sunlight.
- Application of oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp or wet surface.
- Moisture escaping through the exterior walls ( less likely with latex paint than with oil-based or alkyd paint).
- Exposure of latex paint film to dew, high humidity or rain shortly after paint has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface perparation.
If blisters go down to the substrate: try to remove the source of moisture. Repair loose caulking; consider installing vents or exhaust fans. Remove blisters. If blisters do not go all the way down to the substrate: remove them by sscraping, then sanding, prime bare wood and repaint with a quality exterior paint.
Alligatoring
Patterned cracking in the surface of the paint film which resemble the regular scales of an alligator.
- Application of an extremely hard, rigid coating, like an alkyd enamel, over a more flexible coating like a latex primer.
- Application of a top coat before the undercoat is dry.Natural aging of oil-based paints as temperatures fluctuate. The constant expansion and contraction results in a loss of paint film elasticity.
Old paint should be completely removed by scraping and sanding the surface; a heat gun can be used to speed work on large surfaces, but take care to avoid igniting paint or subtrate. The surface should be primed with high quality latex or oil-based primer, then painted with a top quality latex paint.
Duco Mix home of Nexa AutoColour
(First stop for the duco man)
(First stop for the duco man)
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