Knot staining
Cause: Failure to use a knotting solution (usually shellac based) before painting
Solution: Rub down the area and apply a shellac based knotting solution or stain blocker and re paint.
Checking
Cause: Timber has ‘checked’ allowing moisture to penetrate and cause the paint to lift.
Solution: Scrape back to a sound surface and repaint.
Sagging / Running / Curtaining
Cause: Paint has been applied too thickly and additional coats have been applied before the previous was fully cured.
Solution: Completely remove the paint and repaint.
Cissing
Cause: Generally cissing is caused by the application of paint to a surface which has not been properly prepared. The surface will likely be contaminated with grease, oil or polish.
Solution: To resolve cissing, the surface should be left to dry, thoroughly rubbed down and cleaned before applying further coats of paint.
Crowsfooting / Checking
Cause: Underlying paint has a different tensile strength to the top coat. Meaning expansion and contraction varies and causes cracking.
Solution: The use of a more flexible top coat will be necessary.
Flaking
Cause: An emulsion paint has been applied to an underbound material.
Solution: Remove back to bare plaster, use a stabilising primer to prepare the new surface followed by reapplying the paint.
Mould growth
Cause: Organic growth on interior surfaces is usually caused when condensation and damp penetrates into the plaster.
Solution: Wash with bleach and water, apply a biocide or fungicide solution to kill any remaining organic growth and repaint.
Saponification
Cause: An alkyd based paint has been applied to an alkali surface without the use of a suitable primer.
Solution: Remove the soft film and clean thoroughly with white spirit. Once dry, use an appropriate primer and reapply the paint.
Crinkling
Cause: Softening of a previously applied paint, usually due to the fact the subsequent coat was applied before the former was fully cured.
Solution: Sometimes you can rub down the surface to make it smooth again and reapply paint. Although in extreme cases you may need to completely remove the entire coating.