SPRING HOUSE, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Paint is a valuable ally that can help protect and rejuvenate your home’s exterior. No matter how nice the interior people base their first impressions on your home before they ever walk inside.
“The spring or early summer is a perfect time to look for early signs of paint problems. Some paint problems may be caused by using a low quality paint, not preparing the surface properly or painting when it’s too hot or cold,” Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute explains.

No matter what the cause a quick inspection, of those painted outside areas to identify any potential problems could prove very useful in making valuable corrections before your minor paint problem becomes a larger issue.

Four Curb Appeal Busters

Blistering:

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

Possible Cause
Painting a warm surface in direct sunlight
Moisture escaping through the exterior walls
Exposure of 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.
-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.

Cracking and Flaking

The splitting of a dry paint film through at least one coat, can lead to complete failure of the paint. Early on the problem appears as hairline cracks; later flaking of paint occurs.

Possible Cause
Over-thinning the paint or spreading it too thin
Use of a low quality paint that has inadequate flexibility
Painting when it is too cold or too warm, the paint will dry too fast

Solution
-If the paint is tightly adhered to the surface, lightly feather the edges, prime and paint
-If the cracking is all the way down to the surface, then the paint should be removed. Old flaking paint may contain lead, so precautions for lead paint should be followed.

Mildew

The black, gray or brown areas of fungus growth on the surface of paint caulk are unattractive.

Possible Cause
Forms most often on areas that tend to be damp and without sunlight.
Use of a low quality paint, with minimal or no additives to prevent growth
Painting over a surface where the mildew has not been removed
Applying paint in “too thin” of a coat.

Solutions
-First test for mildew by applying a few drops of household bleach to the discolored area, then rinse; if fungus disappears it is probably mildew.
-Remove all mildew from the surface by scrubbing with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach, three parts water), wearing proper safety protection, including rubber gloves and eye protection. Power washing is also an option.
-Rinse thoroughly, prime bare surfaces and paint.

Wrinkling

This problem occurs on a rough, crinkled paint surface when paint forms a “skin”.

Possible Cause
Paint applied too thickly
Painting a hot surface, painting on a very hot day, or high humidity levels
Applying the topcoat to a not completely dried first coat
Painting over dirty or waxy surfaces

Solutions
-Scrap or sand the surface to remove wrinkled paint.
-Repaint with an even coat of top of the line exterior paint. Make sure the first coat or primer is completely dry before applying the second or topcoat.
-Always follow the manufacturers recommended spread rate.