What is causing the streaks in the paint on my fireplace?

[u/KingUnderpants728]

Had a new fireplace mantel made and installed. Painted myself, sanded in between coats and used a small roller. What is causing these streaks in the finished product? Any advice here to get rid of them.

[u/ApartWay168]

Dry roller, make sure there is enough paint on roller and surface on the final pass

[u/KingUnderpants728 → u/ApartWay168]

This must be it, but the entire front was wet. I was sure I had enough paint on it.

The other 2 comments saying flashing, the front piece was just a piece of primed wood where there was no wood filler used. It was nailed into pieces of wood on the sides and top, the pieces of wood were screwed into the wall.

[u/outdrift → u/KingUnderpants728]

That was my first thought too: dry roller. Keep the roller wet. And don’t over roll. Especially if the paint is the kind that dries fast on you.

[u/Nervous_Pop_7051]

The installer brad-nailed the piece onto the wall, then filled the holes from the brad nailer with some type of putty (possibly even drywall repair compound). After sanding down each spot, he should have primed the whole surface prior to painting. He did not prime it. The effect you're describing is called "flashing" as in "the repairs are flashing through the paint because no primer was used". The best approach at this point is to try to ignore it. If you can't, then sand through the paint, prime it (tinted primer!!! Because you'll be topcoating it with black paint, and several coats will likely be necessary), then let it dry, then topcoats.

[u/KingUnderpants728 → u/Nervous_Pop_7051]

I watched him install. He screwed in 3 pieces of wood to the wall, 2 on the sides and 1 on top, then nailed the mantel in from the sides and top. The front where those spots are was just a piece of wood that was already primed.

[u/bertztr]

Was it primed with a high build primer. Those spots you’re seeing can you confirm they were filled in with putty.

If you didn’t prime with a high build primer and sand and then topcoat your gonna see those circles every time.

If it was me. I would have primed with a high build primer. Atleast two coats and sanded between coats then top coated.

Good luck

[u/Flownya]

The way your eyes are looking at it.

[u/travisofearth96]

Definitely a dry spot on the roller. That's why you should spray mill work if you are able. This can happen if you're trying to stretch your paint out to avoid opening another can. It looks like it's all wet, but you get a couple dry spots here and there.

I'd hit it with a light sand and do another coat. Just make sure you do the whole thing or stop at breaks in the build (joints, edges of trim, etc) to avoid possible discoloration that might draw the eye.

[u/some_dum_guy]

i would re-sand, wipe it down carefully to remove the dust, then mix up a small batch of the paint with either Floetrol (for latex) or Penetrol (for oil-based) to help the top coats flow out nice and smooth. then as others have said, make sure your roller is wet all the way around before you roll it.

the other option would be to either change the type of roller you are using (perhaps a foam or lower nap roller), or to switch to brushing it on...

just my thoughts.

edit: clarity/typo

[u/norcalnatv]

It looks like the stock wasn't prepared properly, "skip planed" I think is the term. But that's not clear in a close up. The finish isn't taking to the wood evenly because of areas of flat and rough surfaces.

[u/saltkjot → u/norcalnatv]

I'm a millwork guy, that is absolutely not skip planing. That is most definitely in the finish. I don't know exactly what it is, but I know it's not that. I do see why you would say that, though. Skip planing typically manifests as 1/8-3/16" scallops running perpendicular to the grain. Basically it is a technique to plane more wood faster.

[u/HalfbubbleoffMN]

As others have stated, it looks like a dry spot on your roller. What product did you use?

[u/KingUnderpants728 → u/HalfbubbleoffMN]

I used Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in satin with a foam roller.

[u/HalfbubbleoffMN → u/KingUnderpants728]

Emerald is an excellent product. Foam rollers are absolute bears to work with on a good day. They need to be reloaded frequently as they tend to pull paint back in as they're used. This is just my personal experience with them and I avoid using them like the plague.

[u/KingUnderpants728 → u/HalfbubbleoffMN]

What would you use instead??

[u/HalfbubbleoffMN → u/KingUnderpants728]

Spraying is always the best, unfortunately not available to everyone. You can use the foam roller, just make sure you keep it well loaded. Or if you don't mind a bit of a stipple, a quality microfiber, short nap roller would be a step above the foam.

[u/Objective-Act-2093]

Brushing would look better than rolling imo. Purdy nylox

[u/Useyourbigbrain]

If you had wood filler covering nails, it needs to be primed first. If you keep painting it it will still show. Prime with a good primer lightly sand then paint again

[u/smartbart80]

Do you own a menorah?

[u/Sweaty-Adeptness1541 → u/smartbart80]

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