Exterior Paint Lapping - Causes & Solutions
Beautifully painted exteriors rejuvenate and give a clean, crisp appearance to buildings and homes. There are a few techniques for avoiding common painting problems. One such problem commonly seen with exterior paint jobs is lapping. Paint lapping occurs when two colors overlap, making the darker, heavier color appear denser or glossier. Eliminating exterior paint lapping is possible with just a few quick tips and tricks.
Causes
Paint lapping occurs when one coat of paint overlaps another, causing a difference in the appearance of the coat. This can occur for different reasons. One reason is the lack of primer as a base coat prior to painting. Primer helps to keep paint from seeping into walls too quickly and drying before completion. Painting when temperatures are excessively hot can also cause this outcome.
Preparation
The single most important thing to do to avoid paint lapping is to maintain a wet, workable area called a wet edge. Making sure that both the surface area and roller are sufficiently coated helps to ensure better results. Before painting the main surface area, properly paint the corners and edges. The best way to get this done is with a beveled or slanted paintbrush. Coating these areas at the start helps to make sure that the roller does not touch ceilings or surrounding surfaces. In exterior areas it makes rolling easier by avoiding excessive paint along the edges which may drip or dry thickly, and clump. Working in areas of three feet or less makes maintaining a wet area easier, and eliminates the need to rush in order to keep all areas wet.
Solutions
After the corners and edges are taken care of, there are ways to make sure that the wet edge is maintained. It is important to remember that to avoid lapping, applying paint to dry areas first, then working in the wet area is a must. This keeps an even appearance throughout. One easy way to do this is by painting the letter "N" just as it is normally written. Once that is done and the paint is still wet, paint in a side to side fashion, horizontally, filling in all the open areas of the "N" until everything is covered. Another method commonly used is to paint the letter "V" in one movement starting from left to right, in a down then upward fashion. Once that is completed, after making sure the roller is sufficiently coated, come back down from the right uppermost area of the "V" with strokes back and downward, crisscrossing the left side of the letter. With both of the above mentioned methods the most important thing to do is keep both the roller and the wall sufficiently wet. Once all areas are covered, starting from the top, make smooth, downward strokes to even out all of the painted surface.
Exterior home painting is less stressful and the results more desirable if these few tips and guidelines are followed. It is much easier to apply the initial coat properly than to have to come back with a second or third coat of paint to cover up paint lapping. Homes and buildings can have a more even finish by implementing these easy methods.
Primers and Finishes
Extremely porous painted or unpainted surfaces need a primer/sealer coat before a new top coat. Select a top quality finish in the color and sheen of your choice.
Substrates, Primers
Substrate: Various
Primer: Usually None
Finish Coats: 1240 Acry-Shield Exterior Flat Finish
1245 Acry-Velvet Ext. Low Sheen Finish
1250 Acry-Lustre Ext. Semi-Gloss Finish
1235 Seasons Ext. 100% Acrylic Flat
1236 Seasons Ext. 100% Acrylic Low Sheen
