Mildew is both an interior and an exterior problem found in damp areas receiving little or no sunlight. It appears as black, grey, green, or brown spots on any surface.

What are the possible causes?

• Failure to treat existing mildew before painting
• Using lower quality paints with little or no biocide
• Failing to prime bare wood before painting
• Painting over a substrate or coating from which mildew has not been removed

What is the solution?

• Treat mildew with Berger Sterilizing Solution
• Remove mildew by pressure washing the surface
• Allow solution to remain on surface for at least 1 hour
• Rinse thoroughly with water and allow surface to dry before painting
• Wear protective eyewear, protective clothing, and waterproof gloves
• To protect against re-growth use premium quality paint
• Clean high-moisture areas at 6 month intervals to slow re-growth

We recommend you use these painting systems in order of base coat, first coat, and second coat:

Patchiness generally occurs when insufficient paint has been applied or when paint is applied unevenly, resulting in a variation of the film build leading to patches.

What are the possible causes?

• Inconsistent distribution of paint on the surface
• Incorrect or low quality paint brush or roller
• Failure to apply a primer over joint compound
• Applying paint over joint compound not fully dried
• The top coat is applied over spot-puttied surfaces
• Variations in surface gloss can cause paint to appear patchy

What is the solution?

• Increase the amount of paint on the brush or roller to allow better distribution
• Apply the paint in a grid fashion to ensure an even finish
• Allow puttied wall to dry evenly before priming
• By applying one coat of appropriate premium Berger Primer
• Apply two coats of premium Berger acrylic topcoat
• Refer to Berger Technical Support for primer options

We recommend you use these painting systems in order of base coat, first coat, and second coat:

Poor hiding occurs when paint fails to obscure or hide the surface to which it is applied.

What are the possible causes?

• Using low-quality paint with little hiding power
• Spreading paint too thinly or unevenly
• Over-thinning paint beyond the recommended amount
• Failure to prime the surface before top-coating
• Painting a porous or absorbent surface
• Using incorrect or poor quality tools
• Inadequately mixed paint

What is the solution?

• Prime first, if moving from a significantly darker to a light colour
• When painting in a dark colour, tint primer in a similar tone to the topcoat shade
• Use premium quality paint for better hiding and flow
• Use quality and correct tools for the job
• Follow manufacturer’s recommendation for thinning

We recommend you use these painting systems in order of base coat, first coat, and second coat: