Most exterior doors in South Florida are a factory-primed galvanized metal door. The doors are then painted at least once during the construction process and then more times in subsequent repaints.

According to many paint manufacturers in Florida, it is a common phenomenon that over time the original factory-applied primer coat can lose its adhesion at the interface of the galvanized substrate, and the bare metal substrate is exposed.

If the" perceived paint failure" reveals the bare substrate is exposed, this is not a warranted item. When the previous coat(s) of paint (not only the newly applied paint) loses adhesion (intercoat adhesion failure), it is an "unforeseen" condition in the eyes of most Florida paint manufacturers. Most times, issues with the paint are the visual effect of an underlying problem, not the cause.

Florida paint manufacturer warning:

When dark colors are used in direct sun areas, contractors MUST exercise extreme care to not paint when the doors are hot or will become hot until the paint film is completely dry. Darker colors will fade faster and may need to be repainted within (3) three years.

Dark colors on exterior metal will absorb heat, and the UV rays may cause inter adhesion failures, blistering, film surface cracking, failure of underlying paints, and other phenomena that are beyond the control of the coating system.

The peeling of exterior doors is not predictable. If one or more areas of peeling are existing prior to painting the door, the paint will continue to peel. Spot priming the bare areas and repainting will NOT stop the continued peeling.

To remedy the problem, the entire door must be completely stripped down to the bare substrate. The best way to properly repaint any doors exhibiting the problem of the primer peeling off the galvanized metal surface is to follow these procedures:

1. The doors need to be stripped down to the bare galvanized surface

2. Acid etched to remove surface contaminates.

3. Primed with a UCI'S "ULTRA-PRIME" universal metal primer (UCI #3-2200).

4. Repainted in the proper color with a 100% acrylic gloss enamel (UCI #57-100).

Since the doors in the community are all the same age, this problem may continue with other doors in the future. The next time the doors are repainted, the association should be aware that the problem of peeling might increase with additional coats of paint.