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Close up image of a surface that look like the staining substance has bled through the paint film.

WAX BLEED - EXTERIOR

Stains that come from waxy substances in the reconstituted wood products used to make hardboard siding. When the substrate is painted, these staining substances bleed through the paint; they can even bleed through some primers, possibly causing dirt pickup, mildew and/or poor paint adhesion.

Causes

  • Failure to apply a proper primer to hardboard before applying the topcoat.
  • Allowing hardboard siding to weather before being painted.
  • Use of dark paint colors, which absorb heat and can accelerate wax bleed.
  • Too little paint; wax bleeding is more likely with thin paint films.
  • Applying a hard finish over a softer coat without priming, or painting over a glossy surface without sanding.
  • Using low-quality paints with lower resin content that allows wax to bleed through the paint film.

Solutions

  • Unprimed hardboard should be primed or painted within 30 days. Factory-primed hardboard should be painted within 90 days of installation. Apply the recommended primer and two topcoats on unprimed hardboards.
  • If wax bleed is observed, first determine if wax bleeding is the problem:
    • Place a few drops of bleach on the discolored area. Household bleach does not affect wax so if there is no whitening or bleaching, the stain is likely to wax.
    • Place a few drops of water on both normal and discolored areas. If the water beads up and runs off, a wax film probably exists.
  • If the wax is light or moderate, the area can be cleaned with a detergent solution. In cases of severe bleeding, the surface must be cleaned thoroughly with mineral spirits. Dispose of all waste materials in accordance with local regulations.
  • Allow the surface to dry thoroughly before priming. Prime the surface with a high-quality primer and finish with high-quality exterior paint.

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8 Oz. Sample
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5 Gallon
The following product(s) is required to properly prep and pre-treat wood prior to any stain project.
Required product
BEHR PREMIUM ALL-IN-ONE WOOD CCCC
$0.00
The following product(s) is required to properly prep and pre-treat wood prior to any stain project. Only available in store at Home Depot.
Required 3rd party product
BEHR PREMIUM ALL-IN-ONE WOOD CCCC
The 9 in. x 1/4 in. Polyester Adhesive Roller Cover has a hard texture, making it ideal for applying all types of adhesives to smooth surfaces. It can be used for stippling and applying sand paints.
The following product(s) is recommended when stripping is needed.
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