paint question - tacky at edges - 5yrs later

[AndyL]

Need some technical help...

have a customer, with a pair of doors - both have the same issue... I've never encountered it before.

Doors were installed 5 years ago, painted by install company - not sure what in, guessing lacquer - as I know the company sprays in an automotive paint booth. High gloss, looks closer to an automotive finish than the usual rolling / spray we usually see.

across the door faces, the finish is gorgeous. Problem is the inch or so at the edges - paint isn't cured, when closed the paint glues the weatherstrip down, readily shows fingerprints, and is tacky to the touch.

The "gluing down" of the weatherstrip is causing major issues...

Anyone have some ideas as to how to resolve this? My initial thought was to suggest a repaint - but unsure if it'll cause issues due to the sketchy base - or bleed through or? Tried rubbing off the tacky edges with acetone - actually made things worse, and didn't remove any paint...

??? I'm at a loss - anyone have paint knowledge they can impart on me as to how to resolve this?

 

[Higgins]

Andy, repainting is just going to make things worse! Need to get back to the door surface!!!

Do they know what paint MFG was used?? Also, talk to the firm that sprayed to doors? If they know the paint MFG, talk to the local Rep. Maybe they can shed something on the matter!!

Sorry to say, looking at labor costs to resolve this (strip, stabilize, repaint) , it may be easier and cheaper to purchase new doors and start from scratch!!

AL

 

[AndyL]

Quite possibly, but not quite there yet

Talking to a friend who works for that company - its a lovely made in china paint system. And there's a lack of knowledge over exactly what it is. He thinks its an enamel? (No msds but they call it a baked on enamel coating in their marketing). Apparently they've been having this issue with this paint for years, they just hose the weatherstrip with lube and call it good.

that makes a mess, stains the concrete and creates more issues - one friend suggested pulling the weatherstrip off and letting it cure for a month? Hope that gives it the needed time to cure?

 

[K13]

Is it a catalysed paint? (two part paint and hardener)If it is no amount of waiting will make it cure as there has been a failure of the chemical reaction that causes the paint to dry.

 

[Baada]

Possible chemical interaction with the weatherstripping? Just a guess. Maybe the paint is partially degrading the weatherstipping and it's leaving a residue on the door or the other way around? Will it come off with an alcohol or similar solvent?

 

[Bill Bowman]

Before I would replace the doors, I think I would investigate maybe fabricating caps for the edge of the overhead door. They could be simply formed out of light gauge polished stainless steel in the shape of a "c" channel and fastened to the edges of each panel. As long as the fabricated pieces were under the weatherstrip, should be good to go. Bill

 

[dadsEH]

another rant thread with no solution identified.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

What is the base material under the paint on the edge? If it is a plastic you might find you just can't paint it with anything other than a latex. Once we bought a used Sequoia that some kid had wrote his name on both ashtray/cup holder covers in the back with a sharpe. I couldn't get the marker off so I spray painted them which hid the marker but it's 4 years later and the ash tray covers are still tacky. I seem to always forget to replace them when I am at the salvage yard...

 

[retrobuilder]

Likely from the weatherstripping. If flexible PVC (vinyl) it may be "plasticizers" used to make "rubber" trim flexible. The wrong plasticizers selected can leach out soften plastics and coatings.

Strip to metal (or wood) and change the weather stripping before repainting.

The paint is likely not lacquer but some enamel.