If you see a pattern of cracking in your paint that resembles the scales of an alligator, this is what we in the painting business call…you guessed it “alligatoring.”
With recent advances in technology and the
widespread use of latex paints, alligatoring is not as common as it was in the past.
Alligatoring is usually caused by the
natural aging of oil based paints from temperature fluctuation. The constant
expansion and contractor result in the loss of paint film elasticity. There are other causes as well. If a hard
coating is applied over a softer (and more elastic) coating, the top coat can
crack over time. That’s why it’s not recommended to apply an oil paint over a
latex paint. Application of a topcoat while the primer or basecoat is still wet
can also produce this effect.
OK, so how do I fix this problem?
Unfortunately, you need to remove the old
paint. This usually involved scraping, sanding, and the use of a heat gun. You’ll
want to take every possible precaution if you have reasonable suspicion that
the paint contains lead. At a minimum, you’ll want a respirator. After removing the old paint, you’ll need to clean the surface. If a glossy surface remains, it must be sanded dull.
