TIRED OF PAINT THAT FAILS

Laurence Mehlhorn, Founder

Searrex Ltd - Best Coatings

(604) 363-8250

2025 Willingdon Ave #900, Burnaby

Tired of Paint That Fails? Discover the Searrex Ltd Difference – A Finish Built to Last Decades.

Your home is your biggest investment, and here in Regina, its exterior is the first line of defense against our demanding Saskatchewan climate. You deserve a paint job that not only looks beautiful but provides lasting protection.

Too often, we see homeowners forced to repaint every 3-5 years. The culprit isn't the weather; it's shortcuts. At Searrex Ltd, we’ve built our reputation on doing things the right way, which is why our paint jobs from 20 years ago are still protecting homes today without peeling or flaking.

How do we do it? It’s a combination of uncompromising principles.

1. Meticulous Preparation: The Foundation of Durability

A paint job is only as good as the surface beneath it. We are meticulous. Every project begins with a thorough preparation phase—power washing, scraping, sanding, and priming where necessary. We ensure the surface is perfectly clean, dry, and sound before a single drop of top-coat paint is applied. This guarantees the strongest possible bond.

2. The Uncompromising Rule: Full-Strength Paint, Every Time.

This is our cardinal rule: We do not water down our paint. Period.

Many contractors thin their paint with water to make it spray easier and stretch further, saving them time and money. This is a critical mistake that sabotages the chemical integrity of the product.

Think of it like a premium cup of coffee. If you pour out half and top it off with water, you get weak, unsatisfying coffee with less flavour. Paint is exactly the same. Adding water dilutes the binders (the "glue") and the protective additives, resulting in a thin, weak film that is destined to fail. As our paint simulations clearly show, a thinned coat of paint will crack, fade, and peel years ahead of schedule. At Searrex Ltd, you get 100% of the protection you paid for.

3. Superior Application: The Power of Brush & Roll

The very best application method for our climate is the classic brush and roller. Why? Because this method physically works the full-strength coating into every pore and texture of your home's siding. This creates a thicker, more uniform protective layer and a powerful mechanical bond that simply cannot be replicated by spraying alone.

When a project requires spraying, we still follow the manufacturer's guidelines for unthinned application. Crucially, we then back-roll the entire surface, manually pushing that paint into the substrate to ensure a perfect, lasting bond. Spraying is just a way to get paint onto the wall; the real work is in ensuring it stays there.

Our Ironclad Guarantee

We are so confident in our materials, our preparation, and our methods that we stand behind our work with an unmatched guarantee. Your Searrex Ltd paint job is guaranteed to last without peeling or flaking due to any defect in our workmanship. If a problem arises, we will come back and fix it, free of charge.

Protect your investment with a finish that's truly built to last. Choose quality over shortcuts. Choose longevity. Choose Searrex Ltd.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and estimate.

Sincerely,

Larry Mehlhorn

Searrex Ltd - Best Coatings

(604) 363-8250

2025 Willingdon Ave #900, Burnaby, BC V5C 

Why Watering Down Exterior Paint is a Major Problem

Think of paint as having four key components:

1. Pigments: Provide the color and hiding power.

2. Binders (Resin): This is the most critical part for exterior paint. It's the "glue" that binds the pigments together and makes the paint adhere to the surface. It forms the protective film that resists UV rays, water, temperature changes, and physical wear.

3. Solvent (Water in Latex/Acrylic Paints): This is the liquid carrier that keeps the paint fluid enough to apply.¹ It is designed to evaporate as the paint cures.

4. Additives: These are specialized chemicals that provide properties like mildew resistance, faster drying, UV protection, and improved flow.

When a painter adds 20% more water, they are severely diluting the binders, pigments, and additives.

• Thinner Protective Film: The paint is designed to dry to a specific thickness (measured in mils). Diluting it means the resulting dry film is much thinner and weaker. It's like using one thin coat of armor instead of two thick plates.

• Weakened Binders: The "glue" is spread too thin. It can't bond properly to the surface or to itself. The resulting film is less flexible and more brittle.

• Reduced Protection: The concentration of pigments and protective additives is lower. This means less hiding power (poor coverage), faster color fading (poor UV resistance), and a higher likelihood of mildew and algae growth.

Simulation: House A vs. House B

Here is a simulated timeline comparing two identical houses in a climate like Regina's (hot summers, very cold winters, significant temperature swings), both being painted with a quality Cloverdale exterior acrylic latex paint.

Scenario Setup:

• House A (Control): Painted according to Cloverdale's specifications. Paint is applied unthinned from the can.

• House B (Test Subject): Painted with the same Cloverdale paint, but thinned with 20% water by the painter to "stretch" the material and make it flow faster.

Phase 1: Application Day & The First Year

• House A (Proper Application):

  • The paint has a thick, creamy consistency. It brushes and rolls on smoothly, covering the old color effectively in one or two coats as designed.

  • The paint cures into a hard, durable, flexible film of the correct thickness.

  • End of Year 1: The house looks perfect. The color is rich and uniform. The finish has its intended sheen (e.g., satin, eggshell). It has repelled water and endured a full cycle of seasons with no visible change.

• House B (20% Watered-Down):

  • The paint is thin and watery. The painter works faster, but the paint has poor "hiding" ability. It looks semi-transparent. To get decent coverage, the painter might have even needed a third coat, defeating the purpose of saving paint.

  • The paint film cures to a thickness that is at least 20% thinner and far less dense than intended.

  • End of Year 1: From a distance, the house might still look okay. But on closer inspection, you might notice the color isn't as rich. The finish may look dull or chalky already, as the weakened binders are starting to break down from UV exposure. It is microscopically more porous and holds onto dirt more easily.

Phase 2: Years 3-5 (The Great Divergence)

• House A (Proper Application):

  • The paint is performing exactly as expected. The color is still stable with minimal fading. The surface is still shedding water effectively. There is no cracking, peeling, or flaking. The house is fully protected. A simple power wash would make it look nearly new again.

• House B (20% Watered-Down):

  • Significant failure begins. The weakened, brittle paint film cannot handle the expansion and contraction of the house siding through hot and cold cycles.

  • Fading: The color has faded noticeably, especially on the sides that get the most sun. The diluted UV-blocking additives have been exhausted.

  • Chalking: When you run your hand over the surface, a fine, powdery residue comes off.² This is the paint binder completely failing and releasing the pigments.

  • Cracking & Peeling: Hairline cracks appear all over the surface. In areas exposed to more moisture (under windows, near downspouts), this cracking has turned into active flaking and peeling, exposing the substrate underneath.

  • Mildew/Algae: The diluted mildewcide is no longer effective. Green or black spots are likely appearing on the north side of the house or in shaded, damp areas.

  • The house now looks neglected and is no longer adequately protected from the elements.

Phase 3: Years 7-10 (End of Life vs. Total Failure)

• House A (Proper Application):

  • The paint job is now showing its age but is still largely intact. It might be time to start planning for a repaint in the next couple of years. The key is that the original paint film is still protecting the wood/siding underneath. The prep work for the new paint job will be straightforward: a thorough cleaning and light sanding.

• House B (20% Watered-Down):

  • Widespread paint failure. Large sections of paint have peeled off, leaving the house siding exposed to rain, snow, and sun. This can lead to wood rot, siding damage, and moisture intrusion into the walls.

  • The house absolutely must be repainted to prevent structural damage.

  • The cost of repainting is now much higher. The job will require extensive, labor-intensive prep work: pressure washing, scraping, sanding all of the failing paint off, and then applying a full coat of primer before the top coats can even be considered.

Simulation Summary & Conclusion

Feature	House A (Proper Paint)	House B (20% Watered-Down Paint)
Protective Film	Optimal thickness, flexible, durable.	Thin, brittle, porous.
Color Retention	Excellent. Minimal fading over many years.	Poor. Noticeable fading within 3-5 years.
Durability	High resistance to cracking and peeling.	Low resistance. Cracking begins within 3-5 years.
Mildew Resistance	Effective for the life of the paint.	Ineffective; growth likely within 3-5 years.
Effective Lifespan	8 to 12 years before needing a repaint.	3 to 5 years before significant failure occurs.
Long-Term Cost	One properly paid-for paint job.	The initial paint job + a much more expensive second paint job (due to massive prep) 5-7 years sooner.

Final Answer: The properly applied Cloverdale paint will last at least twice as long, and likely closer to three times as long, as the paint that was thinned by 20%.

The failure of the thinned paint is not a possibility; it is a chemical certainty. Your painter did not save money; they guaranteed that the job would fail prematurely and likely cost you far more in the long run. I would suggest documenting this, contacting the painter with the manufacturer's technical data sheet for the paint, and demanding a remedy.

If you would like us to remedy the problem

About Searrex Ltd - Best Coatings

At Searrex Ltd, we specialize in delivering top-quality painting and coating services with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Our commitment is to provide durable, beautiful finishes for every project, from residential homes to large-scale commercial and industrial properties. We stand by our work with a written guarantee, ensuring you receive a finish that lasts.

Our Comprehensive Services

We offer a full range of services to meet all your painting and coating needs:

• House Repaints: Complete interior and exterior repainting for residential properties.

• New Construction & Repainting: Expert painting for both new builds and existing structures.

• Diverse Projects: Specializing in residential, commercial, and industrial painting.

• Specialty Coatings: Professional application of epoxy coatings and elastomeric waterproofing for enhanced protection.

• Surface Treatments: We provide staining, refinishing, wood preservation treatments, and concrete painting.

• Preparation & Removal: Our services include paint and graffiti removal, along with thorough power washing to prepare any surface.

Why Work With Us?

• Proven Experience: With more than 25 years of experience, we have the knowledge to deliver exceptional results.

• Reliable & Trustworthy: We are known for being a reliable company with good, solid references.

• Guaranteed Quality: All our work comes with a written guarantee, so you can feel confident in your investment.

Contact Us Today for a Free Estimate! Call us at (604) 363-8250 to discuss your project and receive a complimentary, no-obligation estimate.