The Top 10 Exterior House Painting Problems and How To Solve Them

Painting the exterior of your house is quite a project. You want to do it right and not run into any problems, however, sometimes there are paint issues that arise. If you find yourself with one of these ten common paint problems listed below, we’ve got you covered.

Here are the 10 most common exterior house painting problems and how they can be fixed.

Blistering paint

Blistering is when small or medium-sized bubbles or voids form below the paint surface. This is most commonly seen on wood trim or wood siding. This can happen for a few reasons, either the paint was applied on too hot of a surface or it was put on wood that wasn’t thoroughly dried. If water gets trapped under the paint it’s going to result in blistering.

How to solve it

The only way to deal with this issue is to scrape and sand away the areas that are blistered. Once you have a well-prepped surface that isn’t wet or hot you can then prime and paint to match.

Mildew on paint

Mildew is a fungus that loves to grow in dark and damp areas like under eaves and overhangs. It can also grow on the shady side of your house. It appears as a brownish-green film and if you attempt to paint over mildew it will just continue to grow. It also likes to grow on any bare exposed wood that may have lost paint due to chipping or peeling.

How to solve it

Mildew has to be cleaned off with water mixed with bleach or a trisodium phosphate cleaner. Water alone won’t kill it. It may not be necessary to power wash the mildew if it’s just a small area, you may be able to apply the cleaning solution with a sponge and then just wait a while before rinsing it with a hose.

Paint runs, sags, and drips

This isn’t a paint problem so much as a paint application problem. When you see paint that appears to be running off the siding it’s caused by a few things. The first is that too much paint was applied, alternately the paint could have been thinned too much. It can also be caused by the paint being applied to a surface that should have been primed or that wasn’t cleaned before the paint was applied.

How to solve it

If this happens while you are painting you can use a brush or roller to smooth out the paint and make it even. If you find it after the paint has dried you can sand it smooth and repaint it. You may want to try applying two thin coats instead of one thick one as well.

Checking, crazing, and “alligatoring” paint

This is a pattern that forms on dried paint and looks like squares, cracks, or alligator skin. It forms on paint jobs that have been completed using more than one coat normally. It can lead to paint chipping and pealing if left unaddressed. This can also appear when the second coat of paint is applied before the first coat has had time to dry. It can even happen when the second coat is made of paint dramatically different from the first coat. Any oil-based paint is susceptible to this and painting high gloss paint over latex can cause it as well.

How to solve it

Unfortunately, there is no good news for this problem, the fix requires sanding, priming, and repainting with flexible latex paint. Never mix different finishes of paint and always use high-quality paint to avoid this.

Chalking paint

Chalking looks like a chalky powder covering your exterior paint. Although some chalking is normal, it can become a problem, especially in arid environments. Chalking can be a sign that the paint pigment is being released and the binders have broken down due to exposure to the elements. This is often caused by using low-quality paint with pigment extenders, using interior paint on the exterior, or by using overly thin paint.

How to solve it

Power wash or scrub the area with trisodium phosphate mixed with water, then rinse with clean water. Once it is dry, you can paint over it with high-quality latex house paint.

Rusting paint

If you see reddish-brown stains or streaks forming on the surface of your paint it is likely caused by metal beneath the paint. Nails without corrosion resistance or galvanized nails that have lost their coating on the nail head can cause this.

How to solve it

Find the nails and remove them, then replace them with stainless steel or galvanized nails. If they cannot be removed, sand the head to bare metal and countersink them. Caulk the nail heads and sand the area smooth, use a primer with a stain-blocking and rust inhibiting factor, and then paint over the area.

Peeling paint

This is a very common issue that comes from moisture or poor adhesion. There are two versions of peeling paint, it’s either peeling from a previous layer or peeling from the surface material itself. This can occur when the surface is wet, dirty, or too smooth for adherence.

How to solve it

Unfortunately, you have to remove the entire layer till you get to a dry layer that has a surface with enough texture to paint on. You have to scrape the peeling paint and sand the affected area.

Paint Efflorescence

Efflorescence is found in painted masonry. It looks like white salty deposits coming through the paint. This is caused when the brick or masonry isn’t properly prepared before painting. Moisture tends to pass easily through concrete, brick, stone, and masonry. Because of this, a waterproof primer layer is required to prevent groundwater penetration.

How to solve it

First, you must find the source of the water that is affecting your wall. Patching and caulking the source will prevent a reoccurrence. Next, remove all signs of the efflorescence and wire brush any flaking or chalky paint. Clean the area with a trisodium phosphate solution and rinse clean. Wait for the area to completely dry. Then, use a waterproof primer and paint with latex house paint.

Foaming and Cratering paint

This is an exterior house painting problem that can be dealt with at the time of painting. It shows as depressions or little craters in the paint film when it dries. It is caused by using paint that is frothy with air bubbles. Air can get into the paint if it was just shaken, it can also occur if the paint was applied too quickly with a roller or brush.

How to solve it

All paints will bubble to a certain extent. Higher quality paints are made so that the bubbles will break before drying and create a flat surface. Avoid rolling or brushing too much or too quickly and also consider using a short nap roller.

Burnished paint

A change in the gloss of your paint when it is rubbed, scrubbed, or brushed against. It happens when a “shiny” spot appears from being repeatedly rubbed against. Low-grade paint will form burnished spots quicker than quality paint. If you have furniture, a washing machine, or anything else constantly rubbing against the same spot you will get burnishing.

How to solve it

Aside from using higher grade paint, which you need to start with, anywhere that will be subject to regular cleaning or have repeated rubbing from the furniture should be painted with a premium semi-gloss or gloss acrylic enamel. The gloss will help protect the paint from constant contact. Always make sure that when you clean it, you use a non-abrasive cleaner.

If you have paint problems like these and you’re in the Pasadena area give CertaPro a call at 626-584-6111 or contact us online and get a free estimate for your next paint project, we can fix your paint and make your house look new again!