How to avoid brown patches over newly painted wood panelling?

Questions & AnswersCategory: Spots and PatchesHow to avoid brown patches over newly painted wood panelling?
Mojdeh asked 10 years ago

I designed a remodel of an arts and crafts bungalow in southern California. The type of paint was not specified.

There was new wood paneling to match the existing. The new wood panels were painted white to match existing.

After about a month brown patches have appeared on the paint mainly above the screws of the panels. Is this due to the type of paint that was applied or the type of screws that were used? Should the painting have been oil based with shellac or should the screws have been galvanized?

1 Answers
Crowder Painting answered.

This could be from the screws or it could be extractive bleeding from the paneling. Apply a shellac primer to the spots and touch up the paint. This should seal any bleeding.

With a good stain blocking primer the type of paint doesn't matter. Oil based primers like Kilz or Zinsser Cover Stain do a good job, stopping most stains. Galvanized screws would have been better but aren't necessary with a good oil based primer.