Flaking
 

Description:
Flaking is the lifting of paint from the underlying
surface in the form of flakes.

Possible Cause:
Flaking is generally preceded by cracking or checking and will occur over different surfaces. When it occurs over wood, it is usually found on those boards that have an excessive amount of “flat” hard grain pattern. This flat grain pattern is smooth, hard and non-porous. Lower quality paints crack and eventually flake when applied to this type of surface. They cannot accommodate the large extremes of expansion and contraction of the wood that are caused by seasonal weather changes. Because of poor paint penetration into the hard flat grain, flaking will occur on these areas.

Excessive cracking can also occur due to poor surface preparation and/or applying too thin a coat of paint.
 

Solution:
A light sanding or scrubbing with a wire brush to fresh wood followed by application of an alkyd or latex primer is recommended. Wood must not be allowed to weather prior to coating. Replace boards that have an excessive amount of flat grain patterns with boards that have an edge grain. (e.g., boards with equal amounts of narrow hard and soft grain patterns).

Recommended System:
Primer
1 Coat of FLEX BON #169 Series Exterior Alkyd Primer or
FLEX BON #194 Series Exterior 100% Acrylic Latex Primer
Topcoat
2 Coats of Top Quality FLEX BON Exterior Latex Paint