Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MILDEW
SITUATION: Dark spots, easily mistaken for
dirt, appear on clapboards, stained exterior
wood, trim pieces, and most often on NAILHEAD STAINING
overhangs and other areas shielded from SITUATION: Non-coated steel nails in exterior
direct sunlight. This condition is especially home construction are vulnerable to rusting
prevalent on homes in the south where and staining the outer finish as the moisture
a large part of the year is humid and warm. source from inside collects and moves outward
Not limited to growth on wood, mildew can under the action of the sun. The same thing
occur in any place that is partially or fully often happens in older homes when the
protected from sun, such as on home exteriors excess dampness breaks down the galvanized
where trees and tall shrubs have grown close coating on siding nails.
to the walls. REPAIR: Locate and correct the moisture
REPAIR: Immediately before repainting, scrub problem as suggested under The Real Culprit:
the discolored area carefully with a homemade MOISTURE in this folder. If any nail
solution of one tablespoon of dry powdered movement has caused nailheads to show at or
laundry detergent and one quart of above the surface, replace those nails which
hypochlorite-type household bleach to three can be removed (without damaging the board
quarts of warm water. After scrubbing, rinse or pulling the head off the nail) with new zinc
thoroughly with water. Wear protective or aluminum ones. Likewise, if you replace
goggles and rubber gloves to avoid eye and any siding, use good rust-protected nails.
skin irritation. Do this immediately before Sand or wire brush the rust stain off the old
repainting. Use a quality Devoe, Fuller paint
OBrien, or Glidden primer and exterior finish and scour rust off any remaining exposed
of your choice according to label directions, nailheads, going down to bright metal.
after correcting any other paint damage that Counter-sink nailheads to 1/8" below the
may have occurred. If the mildew is surface and spot prime all nail holes. Allow
widespread, prepare the entire home for a two- primer to dry and fill holes with good quality
part latex paint job. Latex paint systems (a caulk. Smooth the surface with putty knife
primer designed for latex, plus a latex finish and topcoat with desired finish coat, after
coat) are more effective than oil paints in repairing any other surface problems.
preventing regrowth of mildew spores. With oil
paint, which dries slower than latex, more
favorable conditions for mildew growth are
offered since it allows longer
the area. Dew that may condense on the top of
the new paint soaks through to the salt. The
salt dissolves, loosening the new paint.
REPAIR: Wash as described under Mildew,
and remove all loose and disintegrated paint. If
necessary, sand thoroughly and wash the
sanded area with a strong detergent solution.
Removing the entire finish down to bare wood
may be advisable, depending on severity.
WOOD PIGMENT STAINS Locate and correct any moisture problem
SITUATION: Common building lumber such as sources before repainting. For moisture
cedar and redwood siding or planks contain problems, install siding vents or louvers as
natural pigmentation that can be dissolved by practical in the overhangs. If the porch ceiling
moisture. When moisture passes through is covered by a shed-type roof, louvers in the
these woods it dissolves the pigment and siding in gable area are effective. Before any
carries it to the surface. The result is breaking future painting, wash these areas with water
of the paint film and a stain running out on the and allow to dry before painting. Apply the
paint finish, where it dries brown. oil, alkyd or latex primer recommended for use
REPAIR: Determine any abnormal moisture with the finish coat you have selected. Follow
source beneath the siding or in the house. all label directions and allow adequate drying
Locate and correct it before undertaking any times. PREVENTIVE TIP: Once the paint is
surface repairs. Remove the stain by washing restored to good condition and cured, wash
with diluted chlorine laundry bleach. Wear overhangs and other weather-protected areas
protective goggles and rubber gloves to avoid with mild detergent and water once a year or
eye and skin irritation. Repair any breaks in when they become dirty.
the old paint carefully and sand smooth as
dictated in the sections on Blistering, Flaking,
Peeling and Checking. Siding vents or
louvers installed in the wall will allow the siding
or sheathing to continue drying from behind, if
internal dampness still exists.