Painted timber weatherboards – paint chalking
Listed under: Exterior, finishes, timber and wood-based, paint, timber, cladding, walls, wall cladding, painted timber weatherboards, lead-based paint
Cause
Weathering, UV light exposure – chalking will be more visible with darker colours
Repair
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Chalking is the formation of a fine powder on the surface of the paint. It is typically a sign of UV weathering of paint. Chalking happens faster to poor-quality paint and to oil-based paint.
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Wash the walls thoroughly with a soft brush and mild detergent. Rinse with clean water and leave to dry.
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Do not use a waterblaster on weatherboard walls – it can lead to long-term damage if it forces water through gaps into the wall assembly.
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Sand the existing surface, smooth rough edges and remove sharp corners from boards. Brush off all the dust after sanding to leave a clean surface.
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Repaint with at least two coats of high-gloss or semi-gloss acrylic paint. When applying paint, follow the recommendations in our maintenance guide for painting.