| We assist attorneys in lawsuits (plaintiff and defense) concerning paint failures on construction projects, including correct specifications, paint selection, powder coating, efflorescence, blistering, adhesion peeling, cracking flaking, poor adhesion, dry film thickness, chalking, bleeding, chalking, brittle failure, spalling, concrete, plaster, stucco, wood, pine, oak, redwood, cherry, cedar, moisture, corrosion, steel, aluminum, galvanizing, primer, topcoat. Specifications: Frequently, architects and property developers issue contracts to general contractors without being specific about the paint system (primer + topcoat) to be used, film thickness to be achieved or the quality of the paint that should be purchased. We examine the contract and provide expert opinion on who should be held responsible for the paint failure. Concrete: Efflorescence, peeling, blistering, cracking are common paint defects on concrete. We determine if the concrete was too moist at the time of painting; if it had properly cured, if the painter applied the correct primer, or if the concrete cracked under the pant film. Plaster and Stucco: We determine if the plaster was correctly mixed, was painted too soon, or allowed moisture to migrate outward from the substrate. Wood: Each specie (pine, oak, redwood, cedar, etc), has its unique characteristics. Paint peeling, bleeding of the resin, paint blistering, cracking, crazing, might occur on one specie but not on others. Paint failures on wooden doors, windows, eaves are very common and are often due to the difficulty of painting such surfaces. We examine whether the paint failure is due to the painting contractor, the paint, or the wood substrate. Steel, Aluminum, Galvanizing: Lack of proper surface preparation, or application of the incorrect primer are probably the most common causes for paint failures on these surfaces. Corrosion, rust staining, blistering, corrosion, paint peeling, flaking, spalling, are common symptoms. Design Defects: Often a paint failure is not caused by the painter or the paint. Design defects, such as lack of gutters, inability for rain to drain away from the exterior walls and wood, poor or no sealing of wood end grain, etc., cause paints to fail. We report on such defects. Primer and Topcoat: In some cases the painting contractor has omitted to apply a primer, or has cheapened the topcoat by mixing an expensive topcoat with a poor quality one. We are able to analyze the paints to determine if the painter applied what he said he had applied. Powder Coatings: In recent years we have seen numerous failures of powder coatings on hand railings, decorative lamps in parking lots, sidings, signage at train stations, and more. Peeling from the aluminum or steel substrate, delamination (poor adhesion) between coats, are typical of such failures. We measure film thickness, perform analytical tests to evaluate surface preparation, determine if the specification was correct, determine if the appropriate powder coating was selected. Paint Quality: Chalking, bleeding, brittle peeling, yellowing, poor adhesion, poor covering, (hiding power), color fading, poor color matching, are some of the defects that are often caused by poor quality paint. We can opine on these defects and failures. For more paint failure images, see our expert witness paint failures and defects product liability lawsuit page. For Ron Joseph’s CV please go to: http://www.ronjoseph.com/consultant
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