With regard to exterior painting being subject to the elements of weather, water is the main cause of many paint related issues. Paint frosting is a water-based problem that often strikes the paint on both wood and brick walls. This issue is unsightly, and it can also be damaging if left to progress for long periods of time.
As distressing as the appearance of these marks may be, frosting damage can be surprisingly simple to remedy with the right tools. Several factors are involved in frosting problems with paint, and these include moisture exposure, paint composition, and primer choice.
The moisture component forms the basis of the issue, and to successfully remove frosting marks the underlying water contamination must stop. The method used to do so largely depends on whether the surface structure is made of wood or masonry.
To minimize external water penetration, builders should seal any wood surfaces that have unprotected end-caps or joints. They should also cover the internal sides of external walls with a vapor barrier in order to prevent house-based water vapors from seeping into walls.
To preclude internal moisture accumulation, painters can protect unpainted surfaces with hydrophobic sealants. In addition, builders should avoid using paints that contain high levels of calcium carbonate. Doing so on external walls is almost asking for a frosting problem with paint.
Paint frosting is a malady can also strike interior paints that have high levels of calcium carbonate in their formulas. Many builders apply paints that contain calcium carbonate on wood or brick walls. Both of these materials are semi-permeable to water, and they are vulnerable to water infiltration if they are not properly sealed, primed, and painted. If liquid penetrates these materials, it can evaporate and then work its way to the surface through overlying layers of paint. As it does so, it can mix with water-soluble salts in the paint and leech these minerals onto the surface. As these salts solidify, they leave behind the deposits called frost marks.
Your Frosting Problem With Paint is Recoverable
Once property owners take preventative steps, they can progress to repairs. For mild frosting issues, repair persons can gently wash the affected surfaces with warm water to test the deposited crystals for water-solubility. If the marks dissolve from water-application, individuals should repeat this process until any flaws disappear.
Stubborn cases may require the use of soft bushes for gentle clearing of heavy deposits. Once excess material is cleared, they should clean the affected areas and then apply quality alkyd primers to the exposed surfaces. These primers adhere well to a wide variety of surfaces, including wood. Once the primer cures, the damaged areas can be repainted with a matching paint.
There is no doubt that frosting is a real danger to paint and a building's health. That said, property owners who use the right products for the job at hand can triumph and keep a pristine property.