After clear coat (the topical protective layer of paint) completely fails the elements begin to immediately wear down the base (color) layer of paint. Often, the beginning stages of clear coat failure appear as subtly dull or white patches on the horizontal surfaces of a vehicle.
You might notice the consistency of your paint has changed. There may be a “skin” on the surface or lumps that won't stir out. If either of these is present, your paint has most likely expired.
Excess moisture, flat-grained wood, high porosity in paint and applying a new paint coat without proper preparation of the old surface can all lead to early paint failure. The most common cause of premature paint failure on wood is moisture. Paint on the outside walls of houses is subject to wetting from rain and dew.
Drips, peeling or flaking paint, bubbles in the paint, uneven edges, and other visible flaws should never happen with a professional painter. If you can see visible flaws like these once the paint has dried, you know you have received a bad paint job.
If you notice lumps or grainy bits that you can't stir out, the paint's chemical makeup has changed and it cannot be used.
Aside from consistency or texture, another way to know if the paint's gone bad is just to smell it! If it smells unpleasant or you see mold, you will need to discard it (correctly). And, yes, mold can grow inside a paint can and be a serious health hazard if you put it up on your walls.
Texture: Bad paint tends to become lumpy, and when it's applied to a surface, it will be hard to get a smooth finish. It smells: When paint starts to go bad, bacteria grow, creating a sour smell.
Drips and runs are a clear sign of a bad painting job. These imperfections are typically caused by applying too much paint in one area, or by not being careful during the application process.
If you notice a lot of bumps or uneven surfaces, then it's likely due to improper drywall finishing. Keep in mind, some roughness near lower levels of the finish might be acceptable, but be sure to pay close attention to corners and edges as these areas can especially appear to be uneven.
Common painting defects encompass issues such as blistering, cracking, peeling, and uneven coverage, each presenting unique challenges to the longevity and visual appeal of painted surfaces.
If it smells bad, bypass using the paint entirely — that smell is bacterial growth that will likely persist once it's on the wall. Small flecks or a thicker consistency, however, can be ignored for quick jobs if you're not a perfectionist.
Patchy paint can result if paint has been applied unevenly. Patchy paint can be down to a variation in surface absorption. Walls might appear patchy if they have variation in texture. Using paint that is not fully mixed can cause a patchy appearance.
One of the best ways to tell if your stored paint has gone bad is to test it on a piece of board or timber. If lumping occurs it could be that chunky sized bits of paint have formed despite a vigorous stir. Extreme bad smell like rotten eggs might be highly concentrated.
The bottom line is that watery paint is unusable. So if your paint is too watery and you attempt to use it to paint your home, you will notice that the paint won't adhere to surface correctly. It will be 'thin' and therefore will perform poorer than expected.
Signs of Water Damaged Drywall
Look for discoloration on the wall, often with streaks from the ceiling. Also, drywall that swells and changes color can show up as soft, bubbly spots. Mold and drywall damage often go hand in hand. Seeing mold, especially at corners and edges, means there's moisture in the wall.
People typically charge about $1,800, or between $955 and $2,550 to hang drywall. Low-end jobs can run about $450 while high-end jobs reach $5,000 or more. That means you should charge between $1 and $3 per square foot for materials and labor for an average project.
Apply a level 5 skim coat of joint compound
Applying a level 5 skim coat across the entire wall will remove the seam, and it is the best solution for hiding drywall seams. Using this method will require a professional to apply an eighth-inch layer of skim coat compound to cover the seams and holes in the walls.
If you enter a contract for a paint job and don't get what you pay for, you may be entitled to monetary compensation, known as damages. In general, the goal of damages for a breached contract for construction work is to put the non-breaching party in the same position they would have been in had things gone as agreed.
To “thin” paint, an exterior painter will add water to the paint bucket, increasing the paint's workability and slowing down the speed with which it dries. This is especially helpful in hot climates, including summers in the Sun Belt.
A general rule of thumb is that a well-done interior paint job will last between 5-10 years, and potentially even longer. However, your paint's longevity is based on a bunch of different factors.
Old paint is likely to separate. This is also a good opportunity to check the consistency of the paint. If, after stirring the paint, the consistency is chunky, lumpy, or has a cottage cheese-like texture, the paint has expired.
Paint Shake and Re-Tints
If you bring your old paint to a Home Depot paint center, you can have it shaken up in their machines. This saves the effort of stirring up your old paint, but it also sets up another great service: paint re-tints.