We like to keep our homes in tip-top shape. No one likes discovering that something around the house isn’t as it should be. Worse, fixing problems is already a hassle on its own so don’t top it off with even more headaches! Avoid these common mistakes when trying to solve issues and doing repair work.
Note: This is the second in a series. The first tackles painting mistakes in terms of paint compatibility. Find it here: Paint Compatibility: 3 Most Common Mistakes When Painting.
Mistake #1: When Trying to Fix Holes with Boysen Roof Paints
Paint can have a lot of useful features in addition to providing a layer of protection and beautifying a surface—but it can only do so much.
Boysen has outstanding roof paints that go above and beyond. Boysen Roofgard has excellent adhesion and is highly resistant to cracking and peeling. It’s also designed to protect your roof against rust. Boysen Cool Shades, on the other hand, is also as durable and dependable. Plus, it has the added feature of being heat-reflecting so it can keep your home cooler and more comfortable in hot weather.
However, though both are undeniably great picks for roof paint, they are not manufactured to be able to fix holes in roofs. What you can do instead is to use the correct sealant products or, if the problem is severe, start fresh and replace your roof. Then, once there are no more holes, paint it with one of the Boysen roof paints. These paints, thanks to their rust-inhibiting properties, will prevent your roof from corrosion (a.k.a. rust)—a common cause of roof holes.
Mistake #2: When Dealing with Water Seepage and Leaks Using Boysen Plexibond
Let’s first quickly go over what Boysen Plexibond is and does. Boysen Plexibond, mixed with Portland cement, forms a seamless, non-porous, and impenetrable layer that disperses any liquid upon contact. It’s definitely effective at preventing water seepage.
However, it’s important to note that putting a stop to water seepage and leaks also depends on the source of the problem. Remember that Boysen Plexibond is for positive side waterproofing, meaning it’s applied to where the water pressure is coming from. Let’s use an umbrella as an analogy. If your wall was an umbrella, Boysen Plexibond will be placed on the top side facing the sky which comes in direct contact with the rain, not the underside.
This is why Boysen Plexibond is great for firewalls, for example. But, it cannot solve all water seepage problems such as in interior concrete walls where you see blistering (paglolobo).
Why? When you apply Boysen Plexibond on firewalls, it acts as an immediate barrier between the source of the water, such as heavy rains, and the concrete. But, in a lot of instances where you see blistering paint in interior walls, water has made its way to the wall but is coming from elsewhere in the home. Therefore, simply applying Boysen Plexibond where the blistering is, is unlikely to solve the problem. The problem will keep coming back until the source of the leak is fixed.
Mistake #3: When Correcting Surface Imperfections and Confusing Skimcoat and Putty
Some Pinoys use skimcoat (a type of plastering material or palitada) and putty (masilya) interchangeably. Both skimcoat and putty correct surface imperfections and defects—but they’re not the same thing.
To put it simply, skimcoat is used for more noticeable defects such as honeycombs and waviness on bare concrete. It’s also used to give walls a smoother texture if the concrete is rough or bumpy. Putty is for minor imperfections such as hairline cracks and slight unevenness on a primed or painted wall.
So, yes, there is a difference in what they’re applied on too. Skimcoat is applied on bare concrete and commonly over a large surface area such as the whole of a wall to correct waviness. Putty is applied on a surface that already has primer or paint and is more commonly used over smaller areas such as when spot correcting minor imperfections like hairline cracks.
Know what you need to use so you can make the right repairs. If you need more info, you can find a useful guide that goes more into detail here: Know the Difference: Skimcoat vs. Putty for Concrete Surfaces.
Good luck! Hope this blog post helps you avoid mistakes in the future! For questions and inquiries about Boysen products, our technical team will be happy to assist you. Send an email to ask@myboysen.com or call (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for a one-on-one consultation.
