Tip of the Month

MILDEW

Black, gray or brown spots or areas on the surface of paint or caulk.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

• Forms most often on areas that tend to be damp, or receive little or no direct sunlight (e.g., bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms).
• Use of an alkyd or oil-based paint, or lower quality latex paint.
• Failure to prime bare wood surface before applying the paint.
• Painting over a substrate or coating on which mildew has not been removed.

SOLUTION:

Test for mildew by applying a few drops of household bleach to the area; if it is bleached away, the discoloring is probably mildew. Remove all mildew from the surface by scrubbing with a diluted household bleach solution (one part bleach, three parts water) while wearing rubber gloves and eye protection. Rinse thoroughly. To protect against mildew, use a top quality latex paint, and clean, when necessary, with bleach/detergent solution. Consider installing an exhaust fan in high moisture areas.

Next Month: Caulk Failure

Previous Tips:

Blistering
Cracking/Flaking
Burnishing
Lapping
Poor Sheen Uniformity
Yellowing
Preventing Stain Bleed-through
Mildew
Picture Framing
Poor Hiding
Poor Stain Resistance