Features of Problem
The dirt pick-up problem is a problem where the wall has accumulated dirt stains on the paint film. It may be found as effusion on a path that follows the trails of the flowing waters usually found along the ridge of the wall, protection edge on a balcony, roof, elf, or wall. If it is a point where humidity accumulates for a long time, it is often found together with the problem of mold and algae stains.
Cause
The dirt pick-up problem is caused by the followings:
1. It is caused by dust soot from car exhaust or other dirty stains accumulated on the wall or the ridge of the wall. When the rain falls, it will cause dust to flow down the wall or other parts of the structure. When the stain has dried, it will settle on the paint film. If left for a long time, the stain will adhere tightly or become embedded into the paint.
2. The use of highly flexible paint and no stain protection technology will allow a chance to accumulate dirt on the paint film highly. This includes the use of lowquality paint with less stain resistance. It is the cause of stains that are easily embedded in the paint film.
3. The choice of paint film type also affects the accumulation of stains. If using the matte colour film outside the building, dirty stains will easily penetrate into the paint film making it difficult to wipe clean. Most of them are suitable for indoor use because the matte film will help camouflaging uneven surfaces making the surface look smooth. It also reduces reflections.
How To Solve
1. Clean dirt, dust, soot, oil with a plastic brush. If there is a lot of accumulated dirt, use the Water Jet to spray and then leave the wall to dry completely before working on the next paint job.
2. The surface must not have cracks. If any, cracks must be repaired with quality material prior to coating. Where cracks are less than 2 mm in size, cracks are repaired with Nippon Paint Vinilex Wall Putty. For cracks larger than 2 mm, fill with Terracryl.
3. For the areas with moss and fungi, scrub with Nippon Paint Vinilex Biowash fungicide and apply Nippon Paint Vinilex Biowash fungicide. Leave it overnight. The surface before painting must be clean and completely dry. If following Nippon Paint standards, the moisture content must not be more than 6% by Kett model HI-520 or not more than 14% by Protimeter Mini and alkalinity must not be more than 8 (pH 8).
4. Apply 1 coat of old plaster primer (recommended paint system for exterior: 1 coat of Old Cement Primer, Nippon Paint Excel Primer, recommended paint system for interior: 1 coat of Nippon Paint Water-Based Primer Aqua Sealer) and 2 coats of Topcoat (Recommended colour system for exterior: 2 coats of Nippon Paint Weatherbond, recommended paint system for interior: 2 coats of Nippon Paint Aircare).
5. It is recommended to use the topcoat of semi-gloss colour film or smooth colour film that is more resistant to embedding of dirt than matte colour film. The application for the topcoat of semi-gloss colour film or smooth colour film will help reducing the problem of stains embedded on the wall. It also helps wipe clean better. There is also better weather resistance than matte film.
How to prevent
Use methods to reduce water stains, such as adjusting the slope of the wall ridge to allow dirt to flow easily, for example, using a material to cover the ridge of the wall with slope adjustment or inserting a gutter to prevent water from the roof flowing down to the roof or balcony to reduce the problem of dirty stains along the running water or use grooving under the beam to stop water stains from flowing to a minimum.
Paint work according to the correct steps must pay attention to the surface preparation process. The surface before painting must be clean free from dust, dirt, grease and other foreign matter and completely dry without cracks to prevent water and moisture from seeping into the wall.
For surfaces that are prone to stains easily embedded on the walls. It is recommended to use a high-graded topcoat of semi-gloss or smooth colour film of Self-cleaning Nippon Paint Weatherbond for 2 coats.
