Have you touched your walls recently? Probably not, but it does help to do it once in a while. It makes you check the condition of your finishes and see if there are issues that are present. Some of them include powdering on paints that you wouldn’t really want to appear in your home.
Expert painters and masons may call this as “pamumulbos.” Powdery deposits on your paint film are caused by a variety of reasons. Know the different sources of each to know what to do when it appears.
Chalking
What causes it
Exposure to moisture and UV from sunlight breaks down the binder of the paint, It results in the pigment loosening or breaking apart which becomes the powdering that can appear on the paint film. Old or low-quality paints are more likely to chalk.
What to do with it
If the chalking surface is in good condition, clean the surface and remove the powdery residue. Afterwards, apply one coat of Boysen Chalk Blocker. This product acts like a primer, but at the same time helps you address powdering caused by chalking of old or poor-quality paint. Wait 24 hours for the Chalk Blocker to dry, then you can apply the topcoat of your choice.
For surfaces where there are other problems (which can occur alongside chalking), applying Chalk Blocker alone will not suffice. First, manually remove any loose and flaking paint. Then, sand wherever there is powdery residue. Spot prime where bare concrete can be seen. It’s also best to remove poor quality paint completely. If you happen to strip to bare concrete, completely apply one coat of Boysen Permacoat Latex Flat White as primer. Once you’ve primed properly, you can proceed to the painting procedure.
Skimcoat or Putty Deposits
What causes it
Skimcoats and putties are products used to correct surface imperfections and cover up cracks. Some of these products come as powdered alternatives such as Boysen Patching Compound. When improper material preparation is followed, sediments of the powder can appear.
What to do with it
You would have to strip to bare due to the cause of this kind of powdering coming from beneath the paint.
Ultimately, preventing the appearance of putty residues is better than having to worry about it. Follow the correct mixing ratio of Boysen products. For Patching Compound, strictly mix 4 liters of latex paint to 1 kg to 1.5 kg of the powder. Having too much of the Patching Compound in the mixture can make powdering more likely to appear. When in doubt, you also have use-as-supplied putties that can help you address cracks up to 1 mm in size.
Efflorescence
What causes it
Efflorescence (umido in Filipino) are different deposits in that they feel less powdery to touch and more crusty or fuzzy. These are salt deposits from the concrete material itself left when moisture evaporates. This usually happens when the concrete was not cured or neutralized properly.
What to do with it
Again, prevention is always best. Let new concrete cure for 14 to 28 days. Then, use Boysen Masonry Neutralizer to neutralize the concrete surface. Prepare a solution of 1 part Masonry Neutralizer and 16 parts water. Apply this on the surface using a brush or roller. Let dry overnight and white crystals would appear. Wash this off using water.
Alternatively, you can use a skimcoat after the concrete has cured. Neutralizing the surface will not be necessary if you’ll follow this procedure.
If efflorescence does appear on a painted concrete surface, scrape off as much of the deposits as you can. You do not necessarily need to wash it off using water. To block moisture, you can apply a clear coating on the affected area. Though if the cause of efflorescence is a water leak, that needs to be addressed and fixed.
Resolve and Prevent Powdering on Paints
These painting problems can ruin the look of your paint finishes and are also unpleasant to the touch. Powdering on paints are at least issues you can prevent and fix if you know the different reasons why they appear. Proper use of certain products ensures your finishes look their best.
Got other paint problems in need of resolving? You can send us an email at [email protected] or call (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for one-on-one consultations. Our technical team will be happy to help.
