:: DEFECTS ARISING DURING STORAGE
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SETTLING
Pigment settled to the bottom and difficult to be re-dispersed.

Possible Cause :-

• Too long storage.
• Excessively warm storage.
• Excessive thinning causing reduction of the specific gravity and viscosity
  of the paint medium so that pigment cannot remain in suspension.
• Thinning with unsuitable materials.

Solution :-

• Avoid warm and long storage.
• Store in accordance to specification.
• Thin only with appropriate thinners as recommended.

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SKINNING
Formation of skin on the container.

Possible Cause :-

• Container not air-tight.
• Poor formulation e.g. lack of anti-skinning agent.
• Storage under very warm conditions.
  

Solution :-

• Avoid unnecessary re-opening of can.
• Ensure container is air-tight.
• Store in appropriate conditions as recommended.

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DECREASING VISCOSITY
Viscosity decreases substantially on storage, often accompanied by an offensive odour.

Possible Cause :-

• Bacterial degradation of the protein binder or other thickening agents.

Solutions :-

• Rework.
• Discard paint.

:: DEFECTS ARISING DURING APPLICATION
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FLASHING
Occurrence of glossier patches compared to the general finish.

Possible Cause :-

• Uneven film thickness especially at laps or joints in large area paintwork.
• Too fast drying of paint.
• Porous substrates not properly sealed, hence uneven absorption.
• Poor ventilation leading to uneven rate of drying.

Solution :-

• Proper surface preparation and application of sealer.
• Roller or spraying application may achieve better result that brushing.
• Adjust the working of large areas to achieve quicker joining up of gaps.

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POOR COVERAGE
The subsurface colour shows through the newly painted surface, giving an uneven blotchy look or a slight discolouration.

Possible Cause :-

• Overstreching of paint, trying to cover 50m2 with a 40m2 can.
• The pigment is simply too thin to provide proper coverage.
• Over thinning the paint has the same effect.
• Using poor quality brushes or roller that can't lay down a good coating.
• Improper mixing of paint.
• Application of paint that is much lighter in colour that the surface below.
• Painting a surface that is very smooth or slick.

Solution :-

• Use a good grade of paint and equipment.
• Use correct amount of paint and thinners for the job.
• Plan on more that one coat for bright colours, white, semi-gloss or full gloss paints.
• To recoat with correct application of good quality paint.
• Prime the surface before painting, if possible, have the primer tinted toward the colour of the paint.

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LIFTING
Attacking of new paint film on existing paint surface.

Possible Cause :-

• Thinning in overlapping, paint attacks the undercoat and shrinkage or peeling of paint film occurs.
• Paint that contains stronger thinner is applied over a weaker thinner diluted paint.

Solution :-

• Undercoat should be allowed to dry thoroughly before applying new coat of paint.
• Avoiding coating in thick coat.
• Adhere to recommend coating interval of paint work.

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PROLONGED DRYING TIME
Film looses its ability to dry after being applied.

Possible Cause :-

• Incorrect mixing of base paint and hardener for two component paint.
• Defective paint.
• Poor ventilation.

Solution :-

• Follow the paint specification when mixing two component paint.
• Discard paint if it is defective.
• Apply paint at good ventilated areas.

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BUBBLES AND CRATERS
Small bubbles, including some that have burst to form craters, appear on the surface of the painted surface.

Possible Cause :-

• The material is too thick.
• Air is entrapped in the brush or roller cover.
• Stirring or shaking a full-gloss type coating.
• Applying coating at elevated temperatures.

Solution :-

• For the first coat, thin the coating material to suitable viscosity so it flows easier and trapped air can escape before skinning forms.
• Remove excess paint from the brush, allow the paint to drip off the brush, or dab it on the lip of the can.
• Don't over-mix or machine-mix with high speed the emulsion paints for long time.
• During application and before setup, burst any bubbles with the tip of the brush.

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SAGGING
Downward "dropping" movement of the paint film immediately after application, resulting in an uneven coating.

Possible Cause :-

• Application of a heavy coat of paint.
• Application in excessively humid and/or cool conditions.
• Application of over-thinned paint.
• Airless spraying with the gun too close to the substrate being painted.
• Application on smooth vertical surfaces.

Solution :-

• If the paint is still wet, immediately brush out the re-roll to redistribute the excess evenly. If the paint has dried, sand, and reapply a new coat of top quality paint. Do not thin the paint, avoid cool or humid conditions, sand glossy surfaces. Paint should be applied at its recommended spread rate. Two coats of paint at the recommended spread rate are better that one heavy coat, which can also lead to sagging. Consider removing doors to paint them supported horizontally.

:: COMMON DEFECTS DEVELOPED ON COATING DURING SERVICE LIFE
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BLISTERING
Bubbles resulting from localized loss of adhesion, and lifting of the paint film from the underlying surface.

Possible Cause :-

• Applying oil-based or alkyd paint over a damp or wet surface.
• Moisture seeping into the home through the exterior walls.
• Exposure of emulsion paint film to high humidity or moisture shortly
  after paint has dried, especially if there was inadequate surface
  preparation.

Solution :-

• If blisters do not go all the way down to the substrate, remove blisters by scraping, and sanding, and repaint with a quality acrylic latex paint. If blisters go down to the substrate: Remove the source of moisture, if possible. Repair loose caulking; consider installing vents or exhaust fans. Remove blisters, remembering to prime with good breathing property paint before applying the top coat.

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LOSS OF GLOSS
Deterioration of the paint film, resulting in excessive or rapid loss of luster of the top coat.

Possible Cause :-

• Use of an interior paint outdoors.
• Use of non-UV resistant paint.
• Use of lower grade gloss alkyd or oil-based paint in areas of direct sunlight.

Solution :-

• Direct sunshine can degrade the binder and pigment of a paint, causing it to chalk and lose its gloss. While all types of paint will lose some degree of luster over time, lower quality paint will generally lose gloss much earlier than better grades.

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ALGAE AND FUNGUS GROWTH
Growth of algae on external surfaces can be observed by their colours. Green, reddish and black signify the different stages of growth.

Possible Cause :-

• Moisture present in walls and substrates.
• Sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.
• Present of cracks which causes water seepage.
• Long term exposure to moisture or the original wall with algae or fungus growth were not remove before the new paint is painted.
• Poor quality paint containing high nutrient for algae or fungus growth.

Solution :-

• Clean off the affected areas with high-pressure water jet.
• Scrub off affected area with algae and fungus.
• Treat surface with Seamaster FW 103 Fungicidal wash, wash off and let dry.
• Investigate the causes and sources of moisture, remedy by repairing the problematic area by using exterior grade putty or plastering mix.
• Paint the area with a coat of wall sealer and finishing coats with algae and fungus resistance.

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YELLOWING
Development of a yellow cast in aging paint, most noticeable in dried films of white paints or clear varnishes.

Possible Cause :-

• Oxidation of alkyd or oil-based paint or varnish.
• Heat from stoves, radiators and heating ducts.
• Lack of light (e.g. behind pictures or appliances).

Solution :-

• Top quality latex paints do not tend to yellow, nor does non-yellowing varnish. Alkyd paints, because or their curing mechanism, do tend to yellow, particularly in areas that are protected from sunlight.

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CRACKING
The splitting of a dry paint film through at least one coat as a result of aging, which ultimately will lead to complete failure of the paint. In its early stages, the problem appears as hairline cracks; in its later stages, flaking occurs.

Possible Cause :-

• Use of lower quality paint that has inadequate adhesion and flexibility.
  Over-thinning or overspreading the paint.
• Inadequate surface preparation.

Solution :-

• Remove loose and flaking paint with a scraper or wire brush, sanding the surface and feathering the edges. If the flaking occurs in multiple layers of paint of crack is too big, use of a filler may be necessary. Prime bare wood areas before repainting. Use of a top quality primer and topcoat should prevent a recurrence of the problem.

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WRINKLING
A rough, crinkled paint surface, which occurs when uncured paint forms a "skin".

Possible Cause :-

• Paint applied too thick.
• Painting is done during extremely hot weather or cool damp weather,
  which causes the paint film to dry faster on top than on the bottom.
• Exposing uncured paint to high humidity levels.
• Painting over a contaminated surface (e.g., dirt or wax).

Solution :-

• Scrape or sand substrate to remove wrinkled coating. If using a
  primer, allow it to dry completely before applying top coat.
  Repaint it avoiding extreme temperature with top quality paint.

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RUSTING
Possible Cause :-

• Common cause by inappropriate use of primer or no primer was used.

Solution :-

• To rectify, use steel brush or sand paper to remove rust.
• Apply one coat of red oxide primer or red lead primer and 2 coats of enamel.

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CHALKING
Formation of fine powder on the surface of the paint film during weathering which can cause colour fading. Although some degree of chalking is a normal, desirable way for a paint film to wear, excessive film erosion can result from heavy chalking.

Possible Cause :-

• Use of low-grade, highly pigmented paint.
• Use of an interior paint for an outdoor application.
• Over dilution during application.

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Solution :-

• First, remove as much if the chalk residue as possible, scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush (or wire brush on masonry) and then rinse thoroughly; or use power washing equipment. Check for any remaining chalk by running a hand over the surface after it dries. If noticeable chalk is still present, apply a quality oil-based or acrylic latex primer (or comparable sealer for masonry), then repaint with a quality exterior coating; if little or not chalk remains and the old paint is sound, no primer is necessary.

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EFFLORESCENCE
Crusty, white salt deposits, leached from mortar or masonry as water passes through it.

Possible Cause :-

• Failure to adequate prepare surface by removing all previous efflorescence.
• Excess moisture escaping through the exterior masonry walls from behind.

Solution :-

• If excess moisture is the cause, eliminate the source by repairing the roof, cleaning out gutters and downspouts, and sealing any cracks in the masonry with a high quality, water-based allacrylic or siliconized acrylic caulk. If moist air is originating inside the building, consider installing vents or exhaust fans, especially in kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas. Remove the efflorescence and all other loose material with a wire brush, power brush or power washer, then thoroughly rinse the surface. Apply a quality water-based or solvent-based masonry sealer or primer, and allow it to dry completely; then apply a coat of top quality exterior house paint, masonry paint, elastomeric wall coating or silicone emulsion coating.

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PEELING
Loss of paint due to poor adhesion. Where there is a primer and topcoat, or multiple coats of paint, peeling may involve some or all coats.

Possible Cause :-

• Seepage of moisture through uncaulked joints, worn caulk or leak in roof or walls.
• Excess moisture escaping through the exterior walls.
• Inadequate surface preparation.
• Use of lower quality paint.
• Applying an oil-based paint over a wet surface.
• Earlier blistering of paint.
• Apply paint on new and uncured substrate with strong alkaline level and humidity.

Solution :-

• Try to identify and eliminate source or moisture. Prepare surface by removing all loose paint with scraper or stiff wire brush, sand rough edges, and apply appropriate primer. Repaint with a top quality acrylic latex exterior paint for best adhesion and water resistance.