Minwax Problem - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**slickshift** · 04-12-2006, 05:23 AM

I looked at a (now) four-season porch
Walls (mostly windows) and ceiling are pine
H/O stained with MW a few years ago
Noticed some "water marks"
Stained again a few weeks ago (same batch of Minwax-been in the shed)
Now there's "water marks" all over the place
The spots are more of a sheen change, a few can actually look like mold/mildew, and they are kinda "dusty" rather than stains
You can actually wipe the stuff off with your finger
-not well, it doesn't fix it, but you can

Any ideas on what's going on here?

Thanks In Advance

Woz the Painter · 04-12-2006, 04:39 PM

Sounds like this could be a problem with mildew, also if your near the ocean it could be salt causing the problem! I would clean and rinse area with a jomax bleach solution, let dry and recoat.

**Teetorbilt** · 04-12-2006, 04:44 PM

You don't want to hear my thoughts. There aren't any 'quick fixes'.

AAPaint · 04-12-2006, 05:24 PM

Yup, it's most likely mold. I would clean it with a bleach solution first. Then follow up by stripping all of the old finish off with a sodium hydroxide stripper like Timberstrip Pro. Follow that with an oxacilic acid or citric acid nuetralizer/brightener immediately. Next, let that puppy dry down to below 12% moisture content (be SURE to use a moisture meter) then you can re-coat with anything better than minwax....penofin or ready seal come to mind.

**Teetorbilt** · 04-12-2006, 05:34 PM

Without being there, I'm with AA and told you that you wouldn't like it.

I also agree with his Minwax analysis. It's not made for the heat and humidity of a ceiling. I'd move to marine grade, I always do in tough situations.

Overhead varnish is always tough, make sure that you charge accordingly.

**slickshift** · 04-12-2006, 08:53 PM

Thanks for the replies

It does act much like a thin layer of m/m, one that hasn't quite blossomed yet
You can certainly see right through it
Like I said, it's almost more of a sheen change or dust

The thing is, mold or moisture hasn't been a problem in this room for, near as I can tell, since it was built over two decades ago

It was stained 7(+/-) years ago
It was finished into a year 'round porch at some point before that (possibly 4 years)
It's inland, so no sea breezes, and until last week, they had "no burn permits" in effect because it's been unseasonably dry

He might've had a spot, or something going on, a few weeks ago, but then re-stained with the old Minwax
(not the best DIY job either

)

No matter what the actual events before were, pretty much 50%+ of the surface has this now

That's pretty explosive growth
And it's very splotchy, and all over place, walls, ceiling...not like it's just under the windows or anything

Could the old Minwax in the shed have been contaminated?
Now he basically spread the spores all over the porch?

AAPaint · 04-13-2006, 07:20 AM

Yes, it's possible. A lot of stains are great food for mold. He has probably stained over a lot of dead wood fibers causing that horrible look. A finish (especially minwax) that old should have at LEAST been cleaned with a good percrbonate cleaner before re-staining.

**slickshift** · 04-14-2006, 04:38 AM

Thanks Guys!