Take a peek at one our most recent door refinishing projects. The photos are a progression of how our door refinishing process works – before, during (stain is applied), and after (varnish is applied). To learn more about our door refinishing process visit our door refinishing page.

Surfactant Leaching – Exterior Latex Paints By: Paint Quality Institute
This phenomenon is known by several names: streak staining, surfactant leach- ing, surfactant staining, exudation, and weeping. It can occur with any exterior latex house paint when conditions are such that water soluble components of the paint are extracted and deposited in concentration on the surface. Surfactant leaching is visually more apparent with dark, ultra deep and accent colors, though it can be problematic with white and light colors, especially if the exudate has a tan color, as sometimes happens. The likelihood and severity of this deposition of water soluble components depend on the paint formulation and the conditions under which the paint is applied and dried.

All latex paints are made with some water soluble ingredients, such dispersants, surfactants, wetting agents, thickeners, and glycols. All of these ingredients eventually come out of the paint film upon exposure.

These materials normally are leached out by rain and dew, usually over the first several weeks of exposure. Weather conditions can be such that a large propor- tion of water soluble ingredients are brought to the surface as the paint dries, or shortly thereafter, and appear typically as shiny streaks or blotches. Also, dew or light rain soon after painting can extract water-solubles, resulting in surfactant leaching.

Surfactant leaching will generally weather off in a month or so. Removing it before then can be difficult, especially if it has been baked by sunshine. Care should be taken in trying to remove it with power washing in that a paint job can remain tender until it has thoroughly dried out or “cured”.
For this reason, paint companies or sales representatives may suggest the customer to not take action to have the problem area repainted and instead ask the customer to wait to allow “self-correction” of the problem. In general, surfac- tant leaching does not adversely affect the film integrity or exterior durability of the paint.

Formulating a latex paint to minimize the amount of water soluble ingredients will help minimize surfactant leaching or water spotting. The formulator uses the minimum level of surfactants required for good color acceptance, the minimum level of co-solvents for paint stability and application properties and the minimum level of coalescent for good film formation. Unfortunately, the addition of colorant may eliminate any benefits gained by minimizing the amount of water soluble ingredients because universal tinting colorants contain glycols and surfactants.

According to American Painting Contractor there are many benefits to painting your home including, “how a fresh coat of high-quality paint on an exterior surface can decrease the risk of weather-related damage. The exterior of home is the most susceptible to damage, as it endures harsh and inclement weather conditions.” With the quality of paints today, painting can help to protect and preserve exterior finishes as well as be resistant to stains, dirt and moisture.

When it comes to interior painting, American Painting Contractor says, “painting interior areas with a fresh coat will also result in a remarkable shift that gives a more attractive, inviting atmosphere. Neutral tones create a warm atmosphere, while brighter hues will result in a more vibrant living space. Owners can even use different colors to complement interior furnishings and decor. Additionally, quality interior paints provide excellent stain removal and scuff resistance, which will help prolong the lifespan of the paint job.”

Painting can provide may advantages to homeowners, accentuating the beauty of a space while increasing the value of the home. As a Dallas painting company, we are focused on helping our customers see the great benefits of what painting can do for your home. To get started with a free estimate, please fill out our contact form.

Many of you may not know that we do offer small carpentry work and included in that work is crown molding. Crown molding is a great add on to any painting project to give a new look to any room in your home.

As far as exterior painting goes, March is usually a perfect month for painting. It offers cooler temperatures than what we see during the summer months. As we update our exterior, think about the different options that you may have, whether it is painting the entire house, touching up your trim or even refinishing your front door. Let us give you an updated look that will give your home some curb appeal.

In fact, Sherwin Williams has recently created an interactive tool called Chip It that allows you to choose any online image and instantly turn it into a palette of paint colors. This allows customers to pick out colors that they like while surfing the web and thus allowing them to pick out paint colors for their home. To check out this new way to choose paint colors visit Sherwin Williams Chip It tool.

Another great online tool to choose paint colors is the Glidden Professional Room Painter. The room painter allows you to paint rooms to see how a color of your choosing will look on the wall. To get started on “painting your room” visit the Glidden Professional Room Painter.

With the beautiful weather we are having, we are offering 20% off of our exterior painting services over $1500. This offer is valid for exterior painting that is scheduled during the month of February. To receive a free estimate, please call the office at 972-633-2592 or fill out our estimate form. This promotion cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions.

To get started on your door refinishing project, simply fill out our pricing form with your door information. Once the form is filled out, it will then give you a price quote and after submitting the form, a DFW Painting representative will contact you to discuss your project further.