It comes with no doubt that a commercial paint job is a ‘smart investment.’ After all, to grow your business, you must make a good first impression, and it is the fresh coat of paint that makes the work done.
Also, from meeting regulatory requirements by keeping the workers and clients safe to increasing the property value, the benefits of quality commercial painting are pretty frequent.
However, once the seemingly perfect paint job is done, maintaining your building in top shape is not all plain sailing. With age and wear, many potential paint problems and defects may arise and prove costly when you encounter them.
So for the best result, it is wiser to familiarise yourself with the most common commercial paint problems because these should be addressed sooner rather than later.
Few of common commercial paint problems: causes and solutions
Here we’re covering some common commercial painting problems and solutions to avoid any possible future paint failures. Also, read on to learn what causes these common paint problems.
From peeling paint to chalking paint, there are a few common paint problems that property owners often need to deal with. For your Sydney-based property, you can always look for Sydney painting services.
Paint bubbling
Paint bubbling, or what is also said as paint blistering, is a common issue. It can form on the interior or exterior walls of commercial buildings. A blister is a pocket of fluid that congregates during the drying process, forms into bubbles and breaks open. It is the result of the paint losing its adhesion to the base coat of paint.
What causes bubbling paint?
Usually caused by heat, moisture or a combination of both, bubbles in paint develop when a layer of paint doesn’t adhere perfectly to its underlying surface. Painting in direct sunlight or on a hot surface can be one possible cause. Also, applying paint on a wet surface can develop bubbles as it holds excess moisture on painted walls which leads to water-filled bubbles.
How to fix paint blistering?
The surface should be clean and dry, and you must avoid painting in excess hot or humid conditions. Then, before repainting it, apply a stain-blocking primer and dry it thoroughly to seal pores in the substrate. When done, repaint the surface taking the assistance of professional commercial painting contractors to prevent any recurring problems.
Paint chalking
Chalking is a pigment from the paint coating that is released by the paint binder due to weathering. It gradually defaces the appearance of the surface and lightens the colour of the paint. Though all paint chalk at some degree (visible in white and off-white patches), heavy chalking (visible in a certain amount of mould and dirt) can be detrimental.
Causes of paint chalking
Old paint and low-quality paint are likely to chalk faster. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet and moisture is another primary reason for the paint chalking. Also, due to thinned consistency of paint, poor sealing and priming, chalking can occur.
How to fix paint chalking?
Rub the surface with a finger or dark cloth to determine the severity of chalking. Remove the heavy chalking by using pressure washing or sand-blasting. For light chalking, use a wire brush or sanding and remove the chalk. Priming doesn’t require if there is only a small amount of chalk remaining. Then finish with a high-quality top coat.
Mould and mildew
Mould and mildew are both fungi, but a mould problem is way more complicated than mildew. Mould appears as a white, green, black, yellow or brown substance, while mildew appears as white, grey or yellowish patches that turn brown and black over time and is considered the early stage of mould. Mostly these develop on the surfaces of the paint on walls or ceilings of commercial buildings.
Causes of mould and mildew growth
This problem mostly shows up on walls that are subject to excess moisture. When warm, humid air comes into contact with a surface at a lower temperature, the moisture condenses onto it, and the mould starts growing. Lower-grade paint is known to feed mould and promote its growth as it contains thickeners.
How to get rid of mould and mildew?
First of all, identify where the excess moisture is coming from and treat it. If you are dealing with a small area of mould, you can use common household products like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or undiluted vinegar to remove it by yourself. But to remove mould and mildew from larger affected areas, the best can be contacting commercial painters in Sydney rather than attempting to do it yourself.
Paint wrinkling
Paint wrinkling is a rough paint surface that often occurs when the top coat dries before the bottom layer. This makes the walls of any commercial place look unsightly and less welcoming.
Causes of paint wrinkles
High heat and humidity can cause wrinkles, as when the temperature is very hot, the exterior of the paint can dry faster while the lower layers remain wet. Applying too thick of a coating is another reason for paint wrinkles. Also, surface contamination, such as wax or grease and incompatible materials, can result in wrinkles.
How to fix wrinkled paint?
The wrinkled layers must be removed first. Then sand the surface smooth to blend it into the surrounding coating. Ensure whether all materials are compatible or not prior to using primers and paints. Apply thin and even layers of paint. Do try to avoid painting in extremely hot, cold or humid weather. Or you should contact a professional to take care of the problem.
Cracking or peeling paint
Paint cracking, peeling, or flaking originates from the breaking of a dry paint film from one or more coats of paint. Initially, the hairline crack appears, and later if left untreated, this progress to a painting chip falling off the surface.
What causes cracking and peeling paint?
Poor preparation before painting is a common basis for why paint cracks. Also, high humidity, fluctuations in room temperature, natural aging, and use of expired or low-quality paint reasons why peeling can occur in the paint can be anything.
How to fix cracked and peeling paint?
Analyse the extent of the cracks. You can begin by removing the loose and flaking paint with a scrapper or wire brush if the cracking does not go all the way down to the surface. But if peeling paint does go to the surface, it is better to remove all the paint by scraping or sanding. Then prime the surface with a high-quality primer and repaint with quality latex paint.
Yellowing paint
Fresh layers of paint coating often develop a yellow-like colour. As it is most detectable in white paints, this does not add much concern till the colour is white. However, yellowing paint on your building is an inconvenience; it’s not something that can be ignored.
What causes paint to be yellow?
Oxidisation of oil-based painting is one of the main causes of yellowed paint. Also, it causes by the lack of light in a particular area. Due to the exposure and also the lack of exposure to various elements, paints can start to suffer from a yellowish tinge. Moisture is another cause that leaves yellow stains.
How to fix yellowing white paint?
If the paint yellows due to a lack of enough light, it can be easily resolved. All you have to do is expose that particular area to light. But if it is caused by moisture, you must find the leak, fix it and sand down the stained area. And if the natural oxidisation of your oil-painted wall is the cause, apply top-quality water-based paint when repainting.
Eventually, there are many more factors that can influence a commercial paint job
Colour richness, condition of the surface, condition of the building, weather, movement and vehicle variables, there are tons of factors that affect the painting job in commercial spaces. Even if it is not the paint quality or other conditional variables that create the issue, the time a new paint job would take ends up influencing a good painting project.
Here’s where hiring Priority One Coatings brings the best bet. After all, an experienced and local painting company with Sydney-wide services can ensure you quality work with timely completion, adding their expertise to do the paint job.
