Repairing Damages to the Exterior Painting of a Residence

Exterior paint is subject to any number of events that can ruin its beauty and effectiveness.  There is good reason to pay strict attention to the preparation, type and application of the exterior painting project.  Paint is the home exterior’s first line of defense against the elements.  The proper surface preparation and paint application are the same regardless of the climate.  However, the type of paint used depends on the weather conditions where the home is situated.  Homeowners seeking advice about repairing damaged exterior paint should contact their local home remodeling contractor.  For many homeowners in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, United Home Experts has been the go-to choice for their home remodeling needs.

Common causes of damage to the exterior paint include inadequate surface preparation, careless paint application, applying the wrong type of paint and structural problems that allow moisture to accumulate.  Prior to repairing damaged exterior paint, the underlying cause for the damage must be diagnosed and treated to keep it from recurring.  Following are some of the most common maladies befalling an exterior paint job.

Blistering

Blisters happen when water or solvent is trapped beneath the paint.  To eradicate the blister, it must be cut open to determine the culprit.  If there is bare wood under the blister, water caused it.  If there is solvent beneath, it was undoubtedly because the exterior painting took place in direct sunlight.

Should water be the cause of the blistering, the exterior of the home should be thoroughly inspected for loose or missing caulking around windows and doors that may have led to the blistering.

Peeling

Peeling occurs when the paint curls away from the wood.  Probable causes are painting over dirty or wet wood.  It may also be due to new paint being applied over loose old paint.

Alligatoring

This affliction is just as it sounds.  It is a condition with a pattern of lines and cracks resembling the skin of an alligator.  It happens when a second coat of paint is applied while the first one is not completely dry.  Alligatoring may also be a result of paint for the first and second coat being of different and incompatible types.

Wrinkling

Wrinkles have a saggy, droopy appearance and are caused by paint being too thickly applied.

Chalking

Interestingly, top quality paint is manufactured to chalk up so that in wet weather surface dirt is washed away.  However, chalking where the paint is removed by rubbing the surface indicates an unprimed surface or that the application of poor quality paint.

Repair and necessary supplies

The repair for all of these conditions is the same, with the exception of the fix for blistering paint.  The blistered paint must be scraped and sanded right down to the bare wood before further steps can be taken.  Otherwise, the treatment for the damaged exterior paint is to scrape the paint off the affected areas and sand until smooth.  The area must then be washed with a detergent solution and thoroughly rinsed with water.  When the surface is dry, the primer coat can be applied.  If moisture was the cause of the damage, the primer should be a water-repellent variety.  Finally, a thin coat or two of the recommended, high quality paint for the home’s climatic conditions should be carefully applied.

The supplies for the job are simple and include a stiff wire brush or paint scraper, fine and medium grade sandpaper, primer, paint, and paintbrush or roller.

Homeowners everywhere should not put off repairing damaged exterior paint.  The look and protective qualities of a properly painted and flawless exterior are important to the home and to those who dwell within.