Poor hiding

Failure of dried paint to obscure or “hide” the surface to which it is applied.

Possible causes:

• Use of a low quality paint.
• Use of low quality tools/wrong roller cover.
• Use of an improper combination of tinting base and tinting colour.
• Poor flow and levelling (see poor flow/levelling).
• Use of a paint that is much lighter in colour than the substrate, or that primarily contains low-hiding organic pigments.
• Application of paint at a higher spread rate than recommended.

Solution:

If the substrate is significantly darker or is a patterned wallpaper, it should be primed before applying a top coat. Use a top quality paint for better hiding and flow. Use quality tools; use the recommended roller nap, if rolling. Follow manufacturer’s recommendation on spread rate; if using tinted paint, use the correct tinting base. Where a low-hiding organic colour must be used, apply a primer first.