Protect Your Surfaces

Paint Durability Profile: Understanding Causes and Solutions for Sun, Water, Salt, Insect, Spores/Rot, and Contaminant Damage

Sun Damage:

• Sun exposure causes fading, dull sheen, and brittle paint film that breaks down prematurely. It can also cause yellowing and uneven coloring.
• Diagnostic tests include visual inspections, surface condition reports, and examining the elasticity of a paint chip.
• The root cause is heavy, excessive UV exposure and deferred maintenance.
• Professional recommendations include thoroughly cleaning all surfaces, removing loose paint, and applying a high build bonding primer before new paint coatings.
• A typical solution involves using an oil-based primer over the stain to achieve bonding before painting with oil-based paint.

Water Damage:

• Visible symptoms include discoloration, fading, and peeling paint due to moisture exposure.
• Diagnostic tests include visual inspections, surface condition reports, and testing moisture content in wood using a moisture meter.
• The root cause is heavy, excessive moisture exposure and deferred maintenance.
• Professional recommendations include thoroughly cleaning all surfaces, removing loose paint, and using a high build primer before new paint coatings.
• A typical solution involves using an oil-based primer to achieve bonding before painting with oil-based paint, as well as testing wood to ensure a moisture content level below 12%.

Additional Information:

• Painting over spores may cause paint to chip, peel, and bubble, indicating that mold is still growing underneath.
• Surface contaminants cause discoloration and cracking in paint.
• Wood surfaces are particularly vulnerable to the elements and are considered unstable substrates, meaning they move quite a bit with elevated surface temperature and/or high moisture content.
• Sun damaged paint may lead to sun damaged wood (Dead Wood Fibers), which may exist in areas where paint has not yet chipped.
• Elevated moisture levels in wood substrates may indicate black mold and/or dry-rot damage.
• Substrate damage is common along with coating failure.