Are you tired of your chalk paint developing on your walls? This occurrence can be annoying because the paint’s powdery granules can ruin dark clothing and rain on your furniture. This article will teach you what causes paint chalking and what you can do to prevent it.
What is Chalk Paint?
Paint chalking is the appearance of powder on a painted surface. Paint chalking happens when the coating of the paint breaks down due to ultraviolet degradation. When chalk paint develops, you will find fine powdery residue on your furniture or pieces of clothing. Paint chalking commonly happens in most cases because all paints can be affected by UV radiation as time goes by.
Why Does Paint Chalking Occur?
As mentioned above, chalking happens when UV radiation caused by sunlight makes contact with the paint. As time goes by, the UV degradation of the resin in the paint will cause the paint’s exposed parts to loosen. This results in the chalky surface of the paint.
Wall paint chalking is a process that inevitably happens over time. When it happens, you can also expect the color of the paint to fade away. Here are some of the factors that contribute to paint chalking:
1. Ultraviolet Radiation
If you observe, chalking most commonly occurs in exterior paints. Surfaces that are protected from direct sunlight can last for a long time without chalking. The more exposed the paint surface is to direct sunlight, the more it will affect the Chalking intensity.
2. Application of Darker Paint
When you apply a layer of dark paint on your walls or above the surface of a lighter paint, it can absorb more heat and UV radiation from the sun. This will cause more stress on the paint and lead to more deterioration of the surface.
3. Using the Wrong Product
Using paint designated for interior application on an exterior surface can negatively affect the surface . If your paint is oil-based and used on an outer surface, it will lose its glossy texture and become powdery after a while. Knowing what type of paint is best for exterior surfaces is the best way to avoid paint chalking.
Negative Effects of Excessive Paint Chalking
Paint chalking is commonly seen in old paint because too much exposure to the sun makes the coating’s pigment released by the paint binder. If glossy paint or oil-based paint is used on exterior surfaces, it will result in worse damage.
However, chalk paint is not just a simple paint problem. Here are some of its adverse effects:
- It can run down on anything underneath it like brickwork, automobiles, or furniture and deface its appearance.
- It can lessen the brightness and the overall appearance of the paint.
- It can damage the paint film and result in lesser protection to the surface.
Surface contaminants such as dirt, dust, and mold must be removed before painting any surface because if you apply a coat on the top of such contaminants, the paint will begin to develop chalk paint and start chipping. In order to avoid such issues, you must clean the surface before applying the paint.
To have a perfect layer of paint on every surface, one must know how to prevent chalk paint from rubbing off and how to prevent chalk paint from chipping. Here are some of the guidelines you can follow to prevent paint from chalking.
How to Prevent Paint Surface Chalking?
Both new and old painted surfaces tend to develop chalking. By following these safety steps, you can make sure that your wall, or any painting project, will not develop chalking issues.
- Choose the right paint: Certain types of paint are specific for interior and exterior use. Using the correct type of paint for your walls, you can easily avoid chalk paint from developing.
- Prepare the surface: A well-prepared surface can save you all the time and money repairing ruined paint.
- Apply a good quality primer: Applying a good primer will help seal the paint on the surface and avoid bleeding, chipping, and chalking.
- Apply light-colored paint: Light colors absorb less UV, so if you plan to paint your exterior walls, opt for light-colored paint to lessen chalking in the long run.
- Regularly washing external paint: Regular washing, cleaning, and exterior paint maintenance will reduce or prevent chalking problems.
Wall paint chalking is a simple problem that will quickly turn serious when not immediately paid attention to or not prevented early on. For the best paint job, Jeff Schultz Painting has the best residential painter in Sarasota, FL. You don’t have to worry about chalk paint ruining your furniture and other structure near your walls because we will take care of every painting job for you. Visit our website and contact us now!
