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EXTERIOR PAINTING: PEELING
Peeling paint is essentially an adhesion issue— the paint is not bonding
to the substrate or to
previous coatings. Trouble shooting the cause of the peeling is crucial
if we are to solve the
customer’s problem. Unless the cause of the peeling is identified and
corrected, the problem will persist.
There are two types of peeling problems: inter-layer peeling (peeling
between layers of paint), and peeling down to bare wood. Identifying
the type of peeling is the first step in troubleshooting the problem.
Inter-layer peeling occurs when the bond between one coat of paint
loses its bond to the previous coat. This will be evident when previous
coatings remain on the surface, i.e., bare wood is not exposed. With few
exceptions, inter-layer peeling is the result of poor preparation during a
previous paint job. However, it remains necessary to identify the
specific cause, that is, what steps in preparation were omitted or
performed inadequately.
The most common causes for inter-layer peeling are painting
over a dirty or chalky surface, or applying a latex paint over
a hard, glossy oil paint. It is important to identify the extent
and location of the peeling. Small, isolated areas of peeling
represent a considerably different problem from extensive
peeling. Isolated peeling may be caused by external factors
(such as a leaky faucet or splashing from a downspout).
Peeling to bare wood is evidenced by the presence of bare, or primed wood.
This type of failure is typically has three causes: insufficient ventilation
of the house, the presence of excessive coats of paint, and the use of inferior
paint. Again, the extent and location of the peeling is an important part of
troubleshooting the problem.
When peeling is extensive, the first step is to inspect the ventilation system.
Inadequate ventilation is common on older homes. A house should have 1 square
inch of net free ventilation per square foot of attic space, evenly divided
between intake and exhaust.
The next step is to determine the number and types of coatings previously
applied to the house. As paint ages, it loses flexibility, resulting in
stress cracks in the paint film as it expands and contracts. These cracks
permit moisture intrusion into the substrate and/ or under the paint film.
Complete failure can result quickly as the problem worsens.
In such cases, complete removal of all paint or replacement of the affected
surfaces are usually the only viable corrective actions. The type of substrate
will determine which option is more economically sensible.
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URBAN LEGENDS OF PAINTING
“Urban legends” are a type of folklore, i.e., popular stories that often have
some element of truth. However, they remain generally untrue, despite their
regular retelling. Similar stories exist regarding painting. We call these the
“urban legends” of painting. And unfortunately, some of these legends are
occasionally spread by painting contractors.
Urban Legend: Brushing or rolling paint is superior to spraying.
Fact: According to the Paint Quality Institute, an independent
organization dedicated to educating consumers and contractors,
“some people think sprayed paint will not adhere as well as
paint that is brushed, but we have not seen that, so long as
the surface has been properly prepared.” In addition, because
spraying generally produces a smoother finish, dirt and mold
spores are less likely to attach to the paint film.
Urban Legend: Larger painting companies have more overhead and
must charge higher prices.
Fact: While it is generally true that larger companies will
have more overhead, that doesn’t necessarily lead to higher
prices. In fact, a company with more employees can spread the
overhead over more field hours. For example, Company A has
weekly overhead of $1,000 and 3 people in the field, while
company B has $2,000 in weekly overhead and 7 people in the field.
Assuming each employee works 40 hours, Company A must charge $8.33
per hour to recover overhead while Company B must charge $7.14 to
recover its overhead. Of course, the actual overhead for each
company will be different.
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Philpaint provides professional interior and exterior painting services throughout
Southwest Houston, including the following communities:
Bellaire, West University, Rice Village, Southampton, Montrose,
The Heights, Braeswood, Meyerland, Tanglewood, River Oaks, and
surrounding areas.
© Philpaint
Incorporated 2006 All rights reserved. |
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