Mould is a fungus that grows when moisture is present, there isn’t enough sunlight or fresh air/poor ventilation. It usually forms a dark stain on surfaces.

If dealing with minor surface mould, spray a mould removal product (remember to always use protective equipment when removing mould), let the solution soak into the surface and wipe away with a damp rag. Repeat if necessary. If repainting, use a mould and stain blocking prepcoat to and a mould and bacteria resistant topcoat.

If you have more than surface mould, or the mould is growing back, moisture is possibly affecting the structure of the building. Speak with a professional to ensure there is no structural damage and complete any required waterproofing before painting.

Efflorescence is a crusty white mineral salt that appears on masonry substrates (brick, render, concrete, etc.) when excess moisture causes minerals to leach.  If caused by residual moisture, efflorescence will naturally disappear as the surface cures. If this does not happen, the moisture is coming from an external source that requires attention.

If efflorescence is present on a bare surface, brush the substrate with a stiff brush to remove the leached minerals, then sponge the surface with a diluted vinegar mixture. Only paint the surface when it is fully dried and the moisture leak has been fixed.

If the surface is painted, remove the paint by mechanical or chemical stripping. Wash the surface with a diluted vinegar mixture, then allow to fully dry. 

You should not repaint until the surface is clean, dry and water-damaged surfaces are repaired.

Wrinkling is a rough, crinkled paint surface that develops on a painted surface and is caused by the paint being applied too thick, second coat of paint was applied too quickly, surface not properly prepared, not painting in ideal weather conditions or the surface was exposed to moisture too early.
If your surface has started to wrinkle, you’ll need to scrape or sand back the existing coatings and reapply the paint. Prevent wrinkling from occurring again by ensuring you thoroughly prepare the surface, paint in ideal weather conditions and follow the advised dry, recoat and cure times (allow extra dry time if the weather conditions are not ideal).

Cracking is the splitting of dried, brittle paint which can affect multiple coats of paint, including the prepcoat. If left, cracked paint can eventually flake.

Cracking paint can be caused by poor surface preparation, incorrect or no prepcoat used, the prepcoat was exposed to the weather, the wrong topcoat was used or applied incorrectly, or the coatings were exposed to high humidity or moisture during application or drying. Sometimes, the paint will crack or flake because the paint system is old and needs replacing.

To repair cracking or flaking paint, remove the paint by scraping or sanding. Once the cracking/flaking paint has been removed, apply a quality and suitable prepcoat and topcoat depending on your surface type. Ensure you follow the recommended drying, recoating and curing times, as well as painting in ideal weather conditions.

Blistering is when bubbles of gas or moisture form under a coat of paint, usually when a coating has lost adhesion with the previous coat or substrate. 

Blistering can occur when moisture has travelled through a surface and cannot escape. This is more common with an oil-based paint which seals the surface after painting, unlike water-based paints which allow the coating to “breathe”. Blistering can also be a result of painting a warm surface in direct sunlight, moisture was present on the surface during application and not allowing enough drying time between coats.

If blistering becomes a problem, you will need to strip the surface of existing paint, dry the surface and repaint with a quality prepcoat and topcoat following the recommended times for drying, recoating and curing, as well as painting in the ideal weather conditions.

Peeling occurs when the paint coat had lost adhesion to the previous coating or surface. Unlike flaking paint, peeling paint retains its cohesion and remains intact. Peeling is commonly cause by a poorly prepared substrate, no prepcoat or the wrong prepcoat was used, the wrong topcoat was used, the topcoat or prepcoat was applied incorrectly, there was moisture present in in the substrate or the surface temperature was too hot.

Peeling paint will need to be completely removed by stripping, sanding or scraping the paint away before recoating with a quality prepcoat and topcoat. Ensure the topcoat and prepcoat are compatible, and that recommended times for drying, recoating and curing, as well as completing the project in the ideal weather conditions are followed.

Alligatoring is the patterned cracking of brittle paint that looks a bit like alligator skin when cracking. Alligatoring happens when the paint loses its flexibility, so is more common in oil-based paints as they are less flexible. This problem can also occur if an oil-based paint is used to paint over a water-based paint, there was insufficient drying time between applications, or the coating was applied too thick.

Paint that is starting to “alligator” needs to be stripped, sanded or scraped off before recoating with a suitable topcoat and prepcoat. Ensure the surface is properly prepared, and that the drying times are followed.

Surfactant Leaching is the appearance of watermark-like streaks on a painted surface. It generally occurs in rooms where there is a lot of moisture (bathroom or laundry) but can also affect your exterior due to rain or overnight dew. It occurs when the painted surface is exposed to moisture during the curing process.

Surfactant leaching only effects the appearance of the paint and doesn’t affect the paint’s performance. To remove surfactant leaching, wait until the paint has fully cured and then scrub the surface with sugar soap. If the surfactant leaching has left permanent marks, you can repaint the surface making sure you allow the paint to cure before being exposed moisture.

If you have flaking lead paint, it should be dealt with carefully so any excess paint flakes are not spread around, setting into furniture and carpet.

If you’re looking to remove the lead paint as a DIY project, we recommend using a product like Dumond Peel Away Heavy Duty Paint Remover to safely strip the lead paint away. Make sure the appropriate safety equipment is worn at all times, and the instructions on the manufacturer’s label are followed to a tee.