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About Dulux
  • Dulux My Home
  • Dulux Specifier
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Careers
Customer service
  • Contact Us
  • Shipping & Returns
  • Find a Store
  • Sustainability
  • Media
  • Dulux Group Corporate
Dulux in the Community
  • Surf Life Saving Club project
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Build: 1.2.39 - Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:51:33 GMT
  1. Trade
  2. Technical Advice
  3. Professional Painter Problem Solver Guides
  4. Professional Paint Exterior Problem Solver
Technical Advice

Professional painter problem solver

Exterior: Solutions for Paint Problems can help you identify, correct and prevent paint failures. Each subject illustrates and describes what a problem looks like, lists a possible cause of the failure and provides a solution. Many preventive measures are also given. Kindly supplied by The Paint Quality Institute.

painterproblemsolver-exterior-sanding-weatherboard-hand

Professional painter problem solver

howto-wrinkling

Wrinkling

Wrinkling is a term to describe a rough, crinkled paint surface, which occurs when uncured paint forms a 'skin'.

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painterproblemsolver-exterior-tannin-spots

Tannin staining

Tannin staining is the brownish or tan discoloration on a painted surface due to migration of tannins from the substrate through the paint film.

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Surfactant Leaching

Surfactant leaching

Have you noticed small droplets appearing on your fresh coat of acrylic paint? This is known as 'surfactant leaching'. Don't panic - it's a normal part of the curing process.

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painter-problem-solver-poor-gloss-retention

Poor gloss retention

Poor gloss retention is the deterioration of paint film that results in excessive, or rapid loss of lustre in the topcoat.

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painterproblemsolver-exterior-poor-alkaline

Poor alkali resistance

Poor alkali resistance is the colour loss and overall deterioration of paint film on fresh masonry. Find out more with our Dulux Tech Guide.

Poor alkali resistance-->
painter-problem-image-Peeling-cracking

Peeling

Peeling occurs when there is a loss of paint due to poor adhesion. Find out more with our Dulux Tech Guide.

Peeling-->
painter-problem-solver-exterior-nail-head

Nail head rusting

Nail head rusting often causes reddish-brown stains on the paint surface. Find out more with our Dulux Tech Guide.

Nail head rusting-->
precision-mouldy-wall

Exterior Mould

If you’ve noticed black, grey or brown areas on your painted surface, chances are you’re dealing with a mould problem. For each problem you’ll find a guide to identifying it, its causes and solutions.

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trade-painter-problem-solver-exterior-interior-lapping

Lapping

Have you noticed that there are areas of denser colour or higher gloss where wet and dry layers overlap during painting? For each problem you’ll find a guide to identifying it, its causes and solutions.

Lapping-->
painter-problem-fading-1

Colour fading

Fading is the loss of colour of one or more of the colour pigments within the paint film.

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painter-problem-efflorescence-bricks

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is the deposit of crusty white mineral salts that appear on a masonry surface such as concrete, render, brick or mortar.

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problem-painter-solver-dirt-pickup

Dirt Pickup

The accumulation of dirt, dust particles and other debris on the paint film is described as dirt pickup and may resemble mildew. Find out more with our Dulux Tech Guide.

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painter-problem-peeling-cracking-flaking

Cracking or Flaking

Cracking or flaking is the splitting of a dry paint film. This is a problem that needs fixing as it can lead to complete failure of the paint.

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painterproblemsolver-exterior-chalking-hand-weatherboard

Chalking

'Chalking' is defined as the appearance of a loosely adherent fine powder on the surface of a paint film, arising from the degradation of one or more of its constituents.

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Blistering of exterior decorative paints

Blistering of exterior decorative paints

“Blistering” is the formation of bubbles in the exterior decorative paint film resulting from loss of adhesion and subsequent lifting of the existing paint film from the underlying surface.

Blistering of exterior paints-->
problem-painter-solver-crocodiling

Crocodiling

Experiencing patterned cracking in the surface of the paint film resembling the regular scales of a crocodile? Find out more with our Dulux Tech Guide.

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