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Paint Failure Photos - Lab InspectAPedia®  -     Field & Lab photographs of failing paint on a building Example of a paint failure diagnostic investigation Example paint failure test lab test report Private Party Paint Failure Report 10/9/2006 - Daniel Friedman

This document presents field and lab annotated paint test laboratory photographs of severe paint failure on a wood sided pre-1900 building in New York. After a painter skim-coated old paint on the wood siding using 40 gallons of Sherwin Williams C-70 crack and hole filler (not a recommended use of this product), a rapid and extensive failure of the new painted surfaces was evident in less than 90 days. Readers should also see Paint Failure Case Photographs-SITE and then Paint Failure Case Photographs-LAB, and see PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR for a guide to the selection and proper application of paints and stains on exterior wood surfaces.

Extensive stripping and surface preparation will be required to restore the building. The skim-coat product, a substance intended for small crack and hole filling, was used in violation of the manufacturer's instructions. © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links show where you are in our document & website.

Lab Photos (selected) - numbers refer to citations in lab sample table

-- Daniel Friedman

The accompaning photographs taken in our forensic lab provide examples of paint contaminants or other conditions associated with paint failures that can be of assistance to analysts investigating paints on buildings, artifacts, and works of art.

Paint lab photo - 001 polarized light showing mineral debris (road dirt) in paint layer

Paint lab photo - 003 mineral debris (road dirt) in paint layer

Paint lab photo - 006 pigment removed from surface during adhesion test

Paint lab photo - 007 mineral debris (road dirt) in paint layer

Paint lab photo - 008 road dirt and debris

Paint lab photo - 010 mitosporic fungi on back of paint chip suggest surface was not cleaned prior to painting

Paint lab photo - 013 debris in paint layer

Paint lab photo - 014 mineral debris (road dirt) in paint layer

Paint lab photo - 015 mineral debris (road dirt) and organic debris in paint layer

Paint lab photo - 016 stereomicroscopic view of solvent blisters in paint chip

Paint lab photo - 023 plant hairs & fibers on back of paint chip describe level of surface cleanliness at time of painting

Paint lab photo - 024

Paint lab photo - 026

Paint lab photo - 028 mitosporic fungi and road dirt debris on back of paint chip suggest surface was not cleaned prior to painting

Paint lab photo - 029 mitosporic fungi on back of paint chip suggest surface was not cleaned prior to painting

Paint lab photo - 030 pollen and plant fibers on back of paint chip suggest surface was not cleaned prior to painting

Paint lab photo - 032 Periconia mold spores and other debris on back of paint chip

Paint lab photo - 033 cratering indicating solvent blistering

Paint lab photo - 035 burst solvent blister and debris

Paint lab photo - 038 high magnification of solvent blister eruption in paint surface

Paint lab photo - 040 paint sample thickness and debris in coating

Paint lab photo - 043 no wood hairs on back of paint chip - not a building-moisture related failure

Paint lab photo - 046 thickness of layers including skim coat material is nearly 4 mm.

Paint lab photo - 048 craters and solvent blistering

Paint lab photo - 049 no wood hairs on back of paint chip - not a building-moisture related failure

Paint lab photo - 050 cross section of paint blister

Paint lab photo - 051 mold and debris in skim coating

Paint lab photo - 052 cratering indicating solvent blistering

Paint lab photo - 053 cratering indicating solvent blistering

Paint lab photo - 054 mold on back of paint chip

Paint lab photo - 056 cross section of paint layers, newest layers up

Paint lab photo - 062 shows layer thickness as well as separation of top coat from thick skim coat of Sherwin Williams C-70 crack filler (not a product defect - the product was not applied according to the manufacturer's instructions) - newest layers at left.

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