Colour choices - performance versus aesthetics

Very often we get requests from customers to tint colours that we know could be problematic. Despite the warnings we give, most times our advice is ignored - often with the predicted consequences. There are two cases that we saw recently, the first involving our paint, and the second involving a competitor's product.
The first case involves product supplied to an entry level housing development in Cape Town. The 'accent colours' specified for the project raised concerns. Blues and greens on the exterior of buildings in a high rainfall area are going to be subject to alkali attack should there be any moisture ingress. Sure enough the original window sill design was cost-driven, allowing moisture ingress. The end result is shown below.

For the remainder of the phases of the project, the window sill design was changed - moisture ingress eliminated and the coatings have survived the first winter without a problem.

The second example of alkali attack we saw this week involves a competitor's product. The house was painted 6 months ago - just before winter. The effects of alkali attack are alarming - indicative of a high degree of moisture ingress.

Hopefully these images will encourage people to check with the manufacturer before colour selection is finalised. Organic colours (bright greens, blues, oranges, reds and yellows) are subject to alkali attack in addition to being less light-fast than oxide shades. They cost a lot more too......

Consequences of incorrect product selection

Some applications, that are less demanding than others, will have minimal consequences if product selection is incorrect. The more technical the application, however, the greater the consequence. A couple of years ago a client was given advice by a paint retail outlet that seemed logical to the advisor, but had disastrous consequences.
The client asked for advice with regard to over-coating a bituminous water-proofing membrane that had been applied to a flat roof below a second storey window. The membrane had weathered considerably, leaving it looking unsightly, and in obvious need of protection from the elements. The client did not want to use Bituminous Aluminium, leaving the sales person in a quandary. We have a product designed for application directly to bituminous membranes (Super Acrylic ST)  but the sales person did not remember that. Logically - according to the sales person - Road Marking Paint is used on bituminous substrates, making it the ideal product to recommend. Unfortunately, bituminous water-proofing membranes become far softer in hot conditions than tar roads do, causing the Road Marking Paint to crack and peel off the surface. Before coating the membrane with the correct product, all of the Road Marking Paint had to be removed from the substrate. This proved to be such a messy operation that it was decided to allow the Road Marking Paint to continue to crack and peel off the substrate on its own - a process that took over a year to complete.
Below is a photo of the roof at a point where most of the Road Marking Paint had peeled of the bituminous membrane. Fortunately it was only visible from the second storey, and that the neighbours were spared the sight!

How to coat swimming pools

As spring has arrived in the Western Cape, and end of year holidays are getting closer, we have the usual increase in requests for information with regard to the coating of swimming pools. This is a far more technical application than most, and it is advisable to get professionals in to do the job. For paint manufacturer's, a sale of generally 10 - 20 litres of paint can result in such dissatisfaction and months of problems that very few companies have swimming pool paints on their ranges. We are the same - we have a product that will work very well if applied by a professional, with due regard to surface preparation and correct application. We are reluctant to give out advice to home-owners or contractors without previous experience in this line.
The short answer then, to the question "how to coat swimming pools", is don't. Get a professional to do the job, pay the price and hopefully have a great summer in your pool!
Not all advice is what home-owner's want to hear - but honesty remains the best policy, even if it sounds a bit abrupt!