Paint Blistering: this very common failure is caused by moisture getting behind paint, or by
painting over wet or damp surfaces. Moisture blisters in paint usually occur when moisture
evaporates to form a vapor bubble under an impermeable layer of paint,
especially on new thin coatings or oil paint coatings.
Paint Chalking - [common condition] weathered powdery exterior painted surfaces, may be normal, or may be
premature if paint was excessively thinned or inadequately primed. Painting over a chalky surface means that the
new paint will not adhere to the surface itself - since the oxidized "chalky" paint particles of the older coating
interfere.
Paint Chipping: paint breaks away from the surface due to poor surface
preparation or possibly due to mechanical damage; painting over chalked
surfaces can also cause this defect. If the failure is due to painting over a
chalked surface the paint chips will expose an older painted surface below. If
the failure is due to mechanical damage (such as a lawn-mower kicked-up
stone), usually the chip exposes bare wood below.
Paint Dirt pick-up: dirt adheres abnormally to painted surfaces. Excluding dirt
that collects on upper portions of exterior siding, e.g. from road and traffic dust
[where roof eaves prevent rain from washing off this dirt] or from rain splash-
up at ground level, paint may be tacky from improper solvents, paint
incompatibility, or if the surface is indoors, inadequate drying ventilation.
Efflorescence and mottling. Efflorescence is a white or yellowish [usually mineral] salt formed on masonry or
plaster due to moisture migrating through the surface, evaporating, leaving mineral crystals behind. Efflorescence
is hygroscopic, and by attracting more moisture, will continue to accumulate. For some detailed photos of
efflorescence (sometimes mistaken for "mold") see Efflorescence & white or brown deposits
exterior surfaces may fade quickly [and are probably less weather resistant in general]. Often fading is
accompanied by chalking.
Paint Frosting - I associate this defect with a matte finish on paint that is
supposed to give a smooth surface, possibly from chemical incompatibility with
the existing coating on the surface.
misnamed as "mildews" in this case are growing on nutrients in paint, varnish, or on organic debris on the coated
surface.
Nail head rusting - occurs where nails on a surface are painted over, usually
with a water-based paint, which rusts the nail head. It can be prevented by
setting and puttying over old rusty nails, by sealing nail heads with a lacquer-
primer before painting the surface, or by using stainless or galvanized nails in
the first place.
Paint incompatibility - may be a cause of peeling, blistering, wrinkling, or other failures. Be sure to read the
manufacturer's label and to either determine what paint is already on a surface to be re-painted, or review your
choices with a paint expert. Also see THINNER SOLVENT PAINT FAILURES - don't use the wrong type of
thinner in your paint.
Paint Peeling - strips or sections of paint peel loose from the surface, usually
due to moisture and/or inadequate surface preparation. Some inspectors mix
descriptions of "blistering" and "peeling" but since the causes and remedy differ
the distinction can be important.
Paint Rheologogical Failures - paint rheology is the science of the flow of paints and coatings on or onto
surfaces. Paint that drips, sags or cracks when it should not, all other application considerations being blameless,
has suffered, in my opinion, a rheological failure.
Paint Resin Failure - paint resins separate out from the paint mixture, perhaps
due to improper paint formulation, improper paint mixing, combining
incompatible paints, or exposure to high temperatures during drying.