Archive for the ‘Interior Painting’ Category

What is Blistering ?

Bubbles resulting from localized loss of adhesion and lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface.

Possible Cause:

• Painting a warm surface in direct sunlight.
• Application of an oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp or wet surface.
• Moisture escaping through the exterior wall (less likely with latex paint than with oil-based or alkyd paint).
• Exposure or latex paint film to dew, high humidity or rain shortly after paint has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface preparation.

Solution:

• If blisters go down to the substrate, try to remove the source of moisture. Repair loose caulking; consider installing an exhaust fan. Remove blisters.
• If blisters do not go all the way down to the substrate, remove them by scraping, then sanding; prime any bare wood and repaint with a quality exterior paint.

What are Low VOC Paints?

Low VOC Paints are paints that have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), are categorized as environmentally friendly because the emission of VOC’s into the air is a type of air pollution. Generally, non-flat paints with no more than 150 grams of VOC’s per litre (g/L) of product are considered low VOC, regardless of any lack of certification, such as one from the United States Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org), which rates and certifies projects. The USGBC follows the requirements for paint in GS-11, a regulation of Green Seal, Inc. (www.greenseal.org), a non-profit that provides science-based environmental certification standards.

What is one of the benefits to using Low VOC Paints?

Environmentally responsible products can save you significantly more than the extra cost they may require. In even the smallest commercial job, product cost is a fraction of labor cost – especially if you need the work to be performed after hours or within a tight deadline. Many property owners and managers elect to have work done after hours to avoid affecting the air quality and odor in a confined space. The schedule constraints are often multiplied when late night/early morning or weekend work is limited to a short duration such as a holiday weekend or school vacation.

What is Alligatoring?

Alligatoring is patterned cracking in the surface of the paint film resembling the regular scales of an alligator. 

Possible Cause:

• 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 elasticity.

Solution: 

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 substrate. The surface should be primed with a high quality latex or oil-based primer, then painted with a top quality exterior latex paint.

Source: Paint Quality Institute