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Photograph of  peeling paint on a building exterior - can you diagnose this failure by eye? Diagnose, Correct, & Prevent Exterior or Interior Paint Failures - paint failure diagnostic clues found indoors

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This paint failiure diagnosis article explains that clues found indoors can help explain both exterior building paint failures (especially bubbling and peeling paint) as well as interior paint failures.

An interior paint diagnostic checklist found here describes common building interior surface painting mistakes and lists visual clues that help diagnose paint failures on building most surfaces.

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Paint Failure Checklist: Interior Clues

Interior Observations Related to Paint Failures

This article series reviews common building exterior & interior painting mistakes, describes how to diagnose paint failures on buildings, and outlines a procedure for diagnostic field inspection & lab testing of failed painted surfaces. We include photographs of paint failures on buildings and more photos of forensic paint laboratory examination of samples of failed paint useful to assist in diagnosing the probable cause of each type of paint failure.

Although outdoor sun and weather exposure are not a significant factor in indoor surface paint failures, many building interior paint & coating failures are similar to other causes of exterior paint job failures in their origin and cure, including bad surface preparation, incompatible paints, etc.

Our page top photo shows popcorn-style ceiling paint in good condition. Textured ceiling paints, including the spray-on "popcorn" type coatings that were used into the late 1970's may contain asbestos and should be handled accordingly if the surface is being stripped or demolished.

Readers should also see PAINT FAILURE CASE PHOTOS, SITE and

then PAINT FAILURE CASE PHOTOS, LAB

The diagnosis and cure of paint failure on building interior ceilings, walls, floors, trim, and other surfaces is quite possible if there is a careful and thorough inspection of the building, its history, its surfaces, and the actual points of paint failure. It is diagnostic to compare the same coating on the same type of surface at different locations on a building and in areas of failed and not-failed paint.

List of Indoor Clues that May Explain Exterior Building Paint Failures

Here is our list of clues that help diagnose the cause of both indoor paint job failures and some exterior paint failures. Additional clues that can help diagnose an indoor paint problem are at STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS. If you are diagnosing a building exterior paint problem also

see PAINT FAILURE - EXTERIOR CLUES.

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

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Question: paint looks stained in rainy weather

(Nov 28, 2012) Burhan said:
I have problem with interior paint, which applied when dry condition and its still good after rainy season comes.

If rain, the paint looks stain at several areas and will gone if the rain stop. For your information the area which problems occur are at corridor especially from 10th floor up to 20th floor. This area perfectly covered all without any ventilation and use AC. Could you please help me to find out the causes and how to fix the problems. Thanks

Reply:

Burhan,

The most likely explanation of what you describe is that there are water leaks into a building wall or cavity that are sending moisture to the cavity side of some building interior surfaces. I'd cut a test opening and inspect the wall or ceiling cavity in the corridor you are describing.

Less likely but possible is an interaction between a particular paint coating (paint mix, formula, chemistry, and the surface to which it was applied) and an increase in indoor humidity.

Certainly it will be diagnostic to look for hidden leaks, high moisture, or differences in paint formulation and appication conditions between the problem area and other building areas where the problem does not appear.


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Continue reading at PAINT FAILURE - SITE HISTORY of or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Paint Failure Indicator Articles

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PAINT FAILURE - INTERIOR CLUES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to PAINTS & STAINS & FAILURES

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