Exterior paint should withstand the most natural and unnatural conditions imaginable, including high humidity levels and exposure to the scorching sun. Even though modern technology has allowed chemists to improve the quality and durability of exterior paint, some problems are inevitable.

Identifying common exterior paint problems lets you find proper ways to protect your home while promoting its visual appearance. It is also cheaper since you save on fresh paint and labor, and find and address probable causes. Besides, you could save money if warranted.

Keep reading to find 8 common exterior paint problems and their solutions to address them like a pro:

Chalking

Paint chalking is a common exterior paint problem that occurs when a chalky residue forms on the paint surface. While it is a normal thing that happens during paint wear or when paint self- cleans during exposure to high humidity or sunshine, an excessive film could indicate a deeper problem like paint failure.

Possible Causes of Chalking

A prevalent cause of chalking is using inferior-quality exterior paint, such as poor-quality oil- based paint with a higher concentration of pigment extenders. Others include improper painting, like using interior paint on an exterior surface and over-thinning. Applying paint over a lower- quality manufactured aluminum siding and failing to seal porous surfaces properly before paintwork also cause chalking.

Solutions to Chalking

The only long-term solution to chalking is by removal before repainting work. Power wash or scrub using trisodium phosphate cleaning solution to remove the chalking. Remember to rinse with clean water and let the surface dry before applying a higher-quality exterior acrylic latex or oil-based primer. Finish up by repainting using premium-quality exterior paint.

Scrub the areas stained by the paint chalk runoff using a dedicated masonry cleaning solution.

Peeling Paint

Peeling paint is a major exterior paint problem resulting from poor adhesion or moisture. Paint peeling due to the moisture peels off the previous layer, whereas paintwork from poor adhesion peels off the surface.

Common Causes of Peeling Paint

One major cause of peeling paint is applying paint over a surface that had poor paint surface preparation. These include applying exterior paint on a dirty, glossy, or wet surface. It also happens when there is inadequate adhesion or blistering on the underlying paint coat.

Other common causes are using poor-quality paint and applying oil-based paint over a wet surface.

Solutions to Peeling Paint

Scrap away the old peeling paint and follow up by light-sanding the affected areas. Spot-prime the bare surface, and caulk using an ideal caulking product, then repaint using a high-quality acrylic latex home paint.

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is a paint problem that occurs in painted masonry construction and comes out as white granular deposits fizzing through the paint film from a bottom masonry structure.

Common Causes of Efflorescence

These include improper preparation, where they failed to eliminate all moisture and salt deposits before the paintwork, poor house ventilation, poor house structures like cracks that caused moisture to seep through the house walls and onto the paint, and poor tuckpointing.

Solutions to Efflorescence

A permanent solution begins with eliminating all the sources of moisture if moisture caused it. These include improving ventilation, tuckproofing all cracks, and waterproofing the exterior. Then, power wash or scrape off the efflorescence using a wire brush to expose the surface.

Clean using trisodium phosphate cleaning solution, rinse using clean water, then allow the surface to dry completely before priming and painting using premium-quality latex exterior paint.

Paint Blistering and Bubbling

Blistering paint happens when you trap moisture between the painted surface and the paint film. You can tell by spotting tiny blisters or bubbles under the paint film. These are common on wood siding.

Common Causes of Paint Blistering and Bubbling

Causes of paint blistering and bubbling include improper house ventilation, causing moisture to escape through the walls, paintwork done in direct sunlight and on a hot surface, causing vapor to be trapped, and painting done on damp wood.

Other major causes are the penetration of high humidity after drying latex paint, inadequate surface preparation, and using poor quality latex paint.

Solutions to Paint Blistering and Bubbling

A reliable solution to paint blistering is scraping away the blistered paint and sanding to expose the wood. Allow the wood to dry completely before using premium-quality primers before repainting using quality latex paint.

Others include avoiding direct sunlight and humid conditions when painting and applying corrective home repairs to improve ventilation.

Rust Discoloration

Rust discoloration or paint rust occurs when there are reddish-brown or black stains on the exterior paint surface.

Common Causes of Rust Discoloration

Rust discoloration occurs when non-corrosion-resistant nails were used when attaching the siding. It could also happen during the wear of galvanized nail heads, exposing them to rusting, and staining the painted surface.

One underrated yet potent cause of runt discoloration is a chemical reaction between the steel nails and tannic acid from the wood surface, causing a black stain.

Solutions to Rust Discoloration

Replace the steel nails with stainless steel or galvanized zinc-plated nails. If you cannot remove the rusted nails, sand them to eliminate the rust before priming with a stain-blocking and rust- deterring primer. Follow up with caulking, filling, or patching the depressed nail heads before sanding smooth and paint using high-quality latex or oil paint.

Exterior Paint Sagging or Running

Exterior paint sagging is a common exterior paint problem that happens when a drooping motion in the paint film yields an uneven paint coating.

Common Causes of Exterior Paint Sagging or Running

Possible causes are using excessive and heavy paint, extreme thinning of paint during the application, and applying paint in poor environmental conditions like high temperatures and high humidity.

Another cause is poor preparation of the paint surface, such as applying paint on dirty or glossy surfaces with no prior priming.

Solutions to Exterior Paint Sagging or Running

If you spot the paint sagging while still painting, use a roller or brush to promote the even distribution of the paint. Yet, if the paint has already dried, sand down the uneven area to even it out before cleaning, drying, and applying a light paint coat. Follow up with another light coat of premium exterior paint.

Also, avoid painting in hot weather or during high humidity.

Paint Checking and Alligatoring

Alligatoring manifests as a cracked pattern on the paint surface caused by issues during the paint application. It resembles a reptile's skin, hence the name. Contrarily, paint checking is similar to alligatoring but in its mild form where the patterns are wider.

Common causes of Paint Checking and Alligatoring

These include failing to allow the primer or base coat to dry completely before applying a second paint layer and the natural aging of oil-based paint, causing cracks due to elasticity loss. Another one is applying a second coat over a discordant layer. For instance, applying glossy paint over a latex-based paint coat.

Solutions to Paint Checking and Alligatoring

Remove the old exterior paint by sanding. Clean and dry the surface, then prime and repaint using a flexible and premium-quality latex-based paint.

Mildew

Mildew is a fungus that feeds and grows on the exterior paint film or caulk. You can identify it by spotting grey, green, brown, or dark black blotches.

Common Causes of Mildew

A vital cause of mildew includes moisture or high humidity, lack of direct sunlight, and poor ventilation, creating a conducive environment for fungi to thrive. Others include failing to prime the surface before painting, using poor quality paint with an inadequate mildewcide, and painting over a surface with mildew.

Solutions to Mildew

Eliminate the enablers by improving ventilation and blocking moisture sources or paths by sealing cracks. Scrub the affected area using a trisodium phosphate cleaning solution for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it with clean water. Then, wash using a detergent solution and rinse again before allowing it to dry completely. Paint using latex house paint with adequate mildewcide.

Conclusion

There are tens of exterior paint problems that could ruin your home aesthetic and cost you more. This article, highlights 8 common ones you ought to know, including their solutions. Please email us at info@agoratechnical.com for any inquiries on exterior paint problems and their solutions.