Mould growth on paints with different surface structures when applied on wooden claddings exposed outdoors

Microbial disfigurement of coated wooden surfaces is considered a major maintenance concern and will shorten the aesthetic service life of wooden facades. The effect of the physical surface structure of a paint film when applied on wood may have an impact on the susceptibility to mould growth. Six model paints were formulated to give the following physical surface structures: glossy, matt, soft, hard, hydrophobic, and a film with air inclusion. The model paints and a standard paint, with and without fungicide, were applied on panels of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and exposed outdoors for nearly three years according to a modified version of EN 927-3. A logistic regression model was fit to the data, and the degree of mould growth varied with exposure time and type of paint. Hard model paint was significantly more susceptible than the other model paints and had a performance close to the standard paint without fungicide. Soft model paint provided the best performance, with the least mould growth. Temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation did not significantly contribute to the model.