After many paintings the deck paint builds up quite a thickness for a paint film. Often this paint film is made up of several different brands of deck paint, one over the other. This in itself tends to accelerate the checking for no two manufacturers make their paints alike and one composition is likely to be more flexible than the others or it may expand at a different ratio to the others. One paint may dry harder and with less flexibility, or one may be exceptionally flexible. A harder coating under or between or over more flexible coatings is sure to cause checking. The small hair checks grow into cracks which seldom stop short of the canvas and sometimes the canvas is cracked as well. Too thick a coat of any paint or old paint that has stood in a partially used can and formed a thick skin is very likely to crack. Deck paint should be well brushed out and rubbed into the under coat, not laid on like enamel or varnish. Many coats of paint on a deck are not necessary for the paint to crack. Deck paint takes a terrible beating. Besides being walked on, it must withstand anchors and all sorts of gear along with continual exposure. The Summer sun is really hot at times and draws oil from the paint at the expense of flexibility. When this hot deck gets a sudden splashing of cold sea water or a sudden shower, the paint is contracted so quickly that there is not time for it to contract as a whole. Consequently, it checks in spots and exposure to sun and weather extends and deepens the checks into real cracks.
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