ARC 1414 – BUILDING TECHNOLOGY I

Ground coat – a primer or basecoat of paint intended to show through

Topic: PAINTS
a topcoat; also called ground color

PAINTS UNDERCOAT – a primer or intermediate coat applied to hide the color of the
A mixture of solid pigment suspended in a liquid vehicle, applied as a thin, substrate and improve adhesion of the topcoat
usually opaque coating to a surface for protection and decoration
TOPCOAT – the final coat of paint applied to a surface; also called finish coat
PIGMENT
A finely ground, insoluble substance suspended in a liquid vehicle to impart
color and opacity to a paint PAINT FINISHES
The purpose of a finish is to protect, preserve or visually enhance the surface
VEHICLE to which it is applied. Finishes include plastic laminated surface coverings
A liquid in which pigment is dispersed before being applied to a surface, to such as plastic laminated and vinyl of fabric wall covering.
control consistency, adhesion, gloss and durability
Binder – the nonvolatile part of a paint vehicle that bonds particles of Paint generally refers to opaque or clear film-forming material that acts as a
pigment into a cohesive film during the drying process shield or barrier between the building material and those elements or
Solvent – the volatile part of a paint vehicle that evaporates during conditions that may adversely affect or deteriorate. The paint film must resist
the drying process deterioration due to sunlight heat, temperature variations, water or moisture
vapor. Mildew and decay chemicals and physical abrasion. Paint may also
PAINT SYSTEM serve to make surfaces more sanitary, improve heating and lighting effects,
A combination of one or more coatings selected for compatibility with each and promote human comfort and safety.
other and the surface to which they are applied, as well as suitability for the
expected exposure and desired decorative effect When using paint, the physiological effects of color and surface texture must
be considered. Certain colors may be stimulating while others are relaxing,
BASECOAT white and light colors reflect size of form and space. Dark color can inhibit
A first coat of paint or other liquid finish applied to a surface the perception of form and may be used for contrast. Flat paint finishes
Sealer – a basecoat applied to a surface to reduce the absorption of soften and distribute, illumination evenly. Glossy finishes reflect light and can
subsequent coats of paint or varnish, or to prevent bleeding through cause glare, but they also provide smooth, easily cleaned, non-absorptive
the finish coat surfaces.
Primer – a basecoat applied to a surface to improve the adhesion or
subsequent coats of paint or varnish; also called prime coat Most paints are carefully formulated to meet specific application that use
requirements and are ready-mixed for application except for thinning,
stirring,
Paints 1
or the addition of an activator or catalyst. It is always advisable therefore to 5. ACRYLIC
follow the paint manufacturers recommendations in the application and use Another extremely durable, long life coating that’s ideal for areas
of a paint or other protective coating. subject to high traffic and use. Comes in different glosses.

PAINTS MAY BE CLASSIFED ACCORDING TO: 6. URETHANE

1. Material to which it is applied Great coating for all woodwork, especially flooring, which is subject to
Wood, metal, masonry, concrete, plastic, etc. all manner of abrasions and scratches. Very durable. It goes on clear
2. Surface finish texture and dries to a hard, tough shell. Tends to yellow with ages and can
Gloss, semi-gloss, egg shell, satin, flat and varnish have a strong odor.

TYPES OF PAINT PAINT DEFECTS

Some of the more durable types of paint that can be used for a variety of 1. BLISTERING
interior house painting applications. Symptoms:
1. VARNISH Small to medium sized bubbles or blisters under the paint, film;
This clear coating to a hard, tough, glossy shell which is resistant to most common on wood sidings and trims
moisture. Ideal for natural-grained look of woodwork, interior and Potential Causes:
exterior  Painting in direct sunlight on a hot substrate (surface being
painted) which traps solvent vapor as the paint dries too
2. ENAMEL quickly
This is a varnish with pigment added that has the toughness and  Paining when the wood is damp causing trapped moisture
durability of a varnish. Excellent for painting cabinetry to expand the paint film
 Dew, rain or very high humidity after latex paint has dried
3. ALKYD if the latex paint is of lower quality or the substrate
Tough, durable types of paint for use in high traffic areas (kitchen, surface preparation was inadequate
bath, woodwork) because of its durability and washability. Needs
 House moisture escaping through the walls due to
thinner or turpentine to clean up.
improper house ventilation
Possible Repairs:
4. EPOXY
 Scrape away blistered paint and sand to bare wood
Two-part, mix type coating. Extremely durable, this coating is
 Let wood completely dry
excellent for really tough applications such as steel and aluminum
  Sand, prime and paint in non-direct sunlight and non- Possible Repairs:
humid conditions  The fix is the same for both problems
 Use high quality latex paint  Remove the old paint, san, prime and repaint with flexible
 If due to lack of home ventilation, corrective repairs must latex based paint
be made to properly ventilate the home’s walls, roof and  Use high quality latex paint
eaves, bathrooms, etc.
 Check and repair any loose or missing caulking around 3. EFFLORESCENCE
windows and doors Symptoms:
Problem of painted masonry construction, identifiable by crusty
2. ALLIGATORING AND CHECKING white salt deposits that bubble through the paint film from a
Symptoms: masonry structure. Salts in the brick or concrete become
A failure in the paint film where it takes on a cracking pattern of dissolved with water and then leach to the surface as the water
deep relief resembling a reptile’s skin, such as that of an alligator. evaporates. Potential Causes:
‘Checking’ is a similar failure but is less severe and is characterized
 Poor paint surface preparation where prior efflorescence
by long, fairly evenly spaced cracks in the paint film having
was not entirely removed and washed before the surface
shallow relief or depth. Occasionally checking may become sever
was repainted
in some areas and a deeper crack or split in the paint will occur.
 Heavy moisture migrating through exterior masonry walls
Potential Causes (Alligator):
from inside the home
 A second coat of paint was applied over a first coat of
 Inadequately waterproofed basement walls allowing
primer or paint base coat before it dried
ground water penetration
 A second coat of paint was applied over an incompatible
 Painting masonry construction before the concrete or
paint such as a glossy paint or a hard oil enamel over a
mortar had adequately cured and dried out
latex based paint
 Cracks in masonry wall is allowing water to get behind
 Oil based paints naturally aging and losing the little
masonry wall
elasticity the paint film originally had, therefore it cracks
Possible Repairs:
due to fluctuations in temperature
 If moisture is getting into the masonry wall eliminate
Potential Causes (Checking):
source of moisture by properly tuckpointing any cracks or
 Natural aging of several layers of older oil based paint. As
missing mortar in the wall or patching concrete with a
the material having been painted shrinks and expands over
latex concrete patch, clean out gutters and downspouts,
time (usually wood), the paint has to move and as it loses
caulk joints around windows and doors with a butyl rubber
elasticity, it checks.
caulk
  If moisture is migrating through the wall from the outside Possible Repairs:
(e.g. basement wall), apply waterproofing to outside of  Chalking is considered dirt and must be removed before
wall repainting
 Remove all efflorescence and loose flaking, chalking paint  Remove chalking by power washing or scrubbing with a
with a wire brush, scraping or power washing before trisodium phosphate cleaning solution and rinse with clean
repainting water
 Clean area with a trisodium phosphate cleaning solution  Let dry and paint with a high quality latex house paint
and rinse with clean water  To clean brick areas stained by chalking runoff the
 Let complexly dry and paint with a high quality latex house masonry should be scrubbed with a specialized masonry
paint cleaning solution. If staining persists, a professional
cleaning contractor may be required to clean the brick
4. CHALKING
Symptoms: 5. SAGGING
Identifiable as a fine chalky powder that forms on the surface of a Symptoms:
paint film. Although some chalking is a normal way paints self Easily identified as a dripping or drooping look to areas of the paint
clean when exposed to the sun and rain, chalking can become film
excessive. Chalking is actually the paint pigment released by the Potential Causes:
paint binders which have been broken down by exposure to the
 Application of a coat of paint that was too heavy or
weather. Chalking is especially typical of very light colored flat
overloaded
paints, especially lesser quality oil based paints containing high
 Heavy handed paint application
levels of pigment extenders. When chalking gets severe it may run
 Paint thinned too much at time of application
off onto and stain surrounding construction.
 Paint was applied in poor environmental conditions such
Potential Causes:
as too cool or when humidity was too high
 Use of cheaper quality exterior paint containing high levels
 Paint was applied without primer to a high gloss vertical
of pigment extenders
surface preventing the paint substrate from having the
 Improper paint was used in an exterior application (such as
‘tooth’ necessary for the finish coat to adhere
an interior paint)
 Painted surface was not clean or properly prepared at the
 Lower quality factory finished aluminum siding
time of application
 Over-thinning paint
Possible Repairs:
 Not properly sealing a porous surface before painting
 If you catch the paint while still wet, use a brush or roller
to redistribute the excessive paint evenly
  If the paint is dried, sand the uneven area and lightly 7. RUST DISCOLORATION
reapply paint Symptoms:
 If paint was applied to a glossy surface, sand the glossy Characterized by rust colored reddish-brown to black stains on the
surface to dull it and create a ‘tooth’ for the paint to paint surface
adhere or apply a primer and repaint Potential Causes:
 Paint using two lights coats instead of one very heavy coat  Non-corrosion resistant nails were used instead of
 Do not overload the paint brush galvanized zinc plated or stainless steel nails
 Steel nails became in contact with the air
6. MILDEW  Steel nails popping from surface
Symptoms:  Excessive weathering or sanding has worn away galvanized
A fungus feeding and growing on the paint film or caulk and is coating on nail heads
identifiable by its grey, brown, green or dark black ‘splotchy’ spots  Tannic acid from moist wood (e.g. oak) has reacted with
Potential Causes: steel nails creating a black stain
 Combination of moisture, poor ventilation and lack of Possible Repairs:
direct sunlight. Underside of soffits and eaves are  If possible, replace steel nails with galvanized or stainless
especially prone to mildew steel nails
 Painting over a surface or prior paint film that still had  If rusted nails can’t be removed, then remove rust by
mildew sanding nail heads to bare metal and countersink
 Use of lower quality paint having inadequate mildew  Prime with a stain blocking rust inhibiting primer
 Not priming bare wood before painting  Caulk, fill or patch depressed nail heads and sand smooth
Possible Repairs:  Paint with a high quality paint
 Wearing eye protection (goggles and rubber gloves) scrub
vigorously with a trisodium phosphate cleaning solution or 8. PEELING PAINT DUR TO POOR ADHESION
a household bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts Symptoms:
water A very common paint problem but can be caused either by
 Let the solution set on the cleaned area for 10-15 minutes moisture or poor adhesion. Peeling due to poor adhesion is
 Rinse with clean water characterized by the paint peeling and separating from an earlier
 Wash the area with a detergent solution and rinse again paint layer (intercoat peeling) or from the substrate leaving some
 Let completely dry and paint with a high quality latex paint behind. Sometimes portions of earlier paint layers are visible
house paint under the curling, peeling paint layer.
 Potential Causes: Possible Repairs:
 Painting over a surface with poor paint surface preparation  Ensure proper drainage of gutters and downspouts flowing
such as being dirty, wet or shiny away from home
 Substrate had poor adhesion prior to being repainted  Eliminate cause or source of moisture by installing exhaust
 Applying an oil based paint over a wet surface fans, soffit vents, siding vents, louvers, fans and
 Blistering paint allowed to progress in failure dehumidifiers
 Lower quality paint was used  Repair and replace missing or damaged caulk
Possible Repairs:  Scrape away old peeling paint and feather sand affected
 Scrape away old peeling paint and feather sand affected areas
areas  Spot prime bare area
 Spot prime bare area  Caulk as required with appropriate caulking product
 Caulk as required with appropriate caulking product  Repaint with a high quality acrylic latex house paint
 Repaint with a high quality acrylic latex house paint
10. PEELING PAINT DUE TO INTERIOR MOISTURE
9. PEELING PAINT DUE TO EXTERIOR MOISTURE Symptoms:
Symptoms: Characterized by cracking and gentle peeling away of the paint
A very common paint problem that can be caused either by from the substrate as it loses adhesion due to the moisture.
moisture or poor adhesion. Peeling due to moisture is Moisture originating from behind the paint film or in front and
recognizable by large peeling sections of paint exposing bare forcing its way through the paint film can create this type of paint
wood underneath. Unlike peeling due to adhesion problems failure
where peeling may be spotty, with moisture related peeling, Potential Causes:
larger areas peel away often around windows, doors and gutters  High humidity areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, hot tubs,
Potential Causes: wet basement areas and the like can create humidity that
 Moisture getting behind paint film failing or missing caulk, penetrates the paint film from the front
leaks in roof or wall systems or being too close to the  Leaking flashing around a chimney or other exterior
ground wall/roof intersection can allow water to seep into the
 Faulty guttering or missing ventilation causing ice dams or house and wet the plaster from behind the paint film
water back up causing the paint to separate from the substrate
 Painting when the surface being painted is wet from
condensation or rain
Possible Repairs:
 Ventilate high moisture areas such as bathrooms by
providing an exhaust vent fan that removes humidity and
discharges to the outside
 Ensure proper ventilation of the roof and walls and soffits
 Repair missing or damaged flashing at chimney or other
wall/roof connections
 Scrape away old peeling paint and feather sand affected
areas
 Spot prime bare area
 Paint with high quality acrylic latex paint