Moisture seeping into the home through the exterior walls also causes
blistering, though this is less likely with latex paint.
Latex paint that is exposed to high humidity or moisture shortly after paint
has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface preparation may also
be susceptible to blistering.
• How to Solve It
If the blisters do not go all the way down to the substrate, remove them by
scraping and sanding. Then, repaint with a quality acrylic latex interior
paint. If the blisters go down to the substrate, you'll need to remove the
source of moisture, if possible. Repair loose caulking and consider installing
vents or exhaust fans. Remove blisters as above, remembering to prime
before applying the top coat.
Cracking & Flaking Paint
Dry paint sometimes cracks or flakes through at least one coat due to
aging, which ultimately will lead to complete failure of the paint. In its early
stages, the problem appears as hairline cracks; in its later stages, flaking
occurs.
• What Causes It?
Cracking and flaking can be caused by the following:
• Using a lower quality paint that has inadequate adhesion and flexibility.
• Overthinning or overspreading the paint when applying it.
• Inadequately preparing the surface, or applying the paint to bare wood
without first applying a primer.
• Alkyd paint excessive hardens and becomes brittle as the paint job
ages.
• How to Solve It
To solve cracking and flaking, first remove all loose and flaking paint with a
scraper or wire brush. Then, sand the surface and feather the edges.
If the flaking occurs in multiple layers of paint, you may need to use a filler.
Prime bare wood areas before repainting. Using a top quality primer and
top coat should prevent a recurrence of the problem.
Wrinkling Paint
When uncured paint forms a skin, it can wrinkle, making the surface appear
rough and crinkled paint.
• What Causes It?
Wrinkling can occur is you apply paint too thickly (more likely when using
alkyd or oil-based paints).
Painting during extremely hot weather or cool damp weather causes the
paint film to dry faster on top than on the bottom, which can lead to
wrinkling. Uncured paint that is exposed to high humidity levels is also
susceptible to wrinkling.
• Another possible cause of wrinkling is applying a top coat of paint to
insufficiently cured primer.
• Finally, painting over contaminated surface (e.g., dirt or wax) may also lead
to this condition.
• How to Solve It
Scrape or sand substrate to remove wrinkled coating.
If using a primer, allow it to dry completely before applying top coat.
Repaint the area (avoiding temperature or humidity extremes), applying an
even coat of top quality exterior paint.
Uneven Sheen
• Poor sheen uniformity leads to shiny spots or dull spots (also known as
"flashing") on a painted surface.
• What Causes It?
Unevenly spreading the paint as you apply it or failing to maintain a wet
edge, which can lead to lapping, are two common causes of poor sheen
uniformity.
• This condition can also develop if a porous surface or a surface with variable
porosity was not properly primed before the paint was applied.
• Solution
New substrates should be primed and sealed before applying the top coat
to ensure a uniformly porous surface. Without the use of a primer or sealer,
a second coat of paint will more likely be needed.
Make sure to apply paint from "wet to dry" to prevent lapping. Often,
applying an additional coat will even out sheen irregularities.
