Peeling Paint Blues by William A. Lotz, P.E. Paint companies sell a lot of paint as a result of moisture problems. I have seen several expensive houses this year that were built in the fall of 1986 and by January 1987, the paint was failing. When the paint manufacturer's representative was called to the site by the builder to determine the cause of the failure, the contractor was left with more questions than answers. As they typically do, the sales rep pricked the clapboards with a moisture meter, declared "excessive moisture," and left with the comment that his paint was not to blame. When two different brands of paint (primer and finish coat) are used on the building, the contractor
