Flashing
Sense: paint appearance
Also: flash, flashes, uneven sheen, touch-up flashing
A visible difference in sheen or reflected appearance between areas of a painted surface, making a patch, overlap, or touch-up stand out from the surrounding finish.
In use
Inspect cedar for flashing after the coating and any touch-ups dry. We usually touch up locally; if flashing occurs, we extend the correction across the entire affected area, corner to corner.
Where it is used
Entry 012Diagnosing and Correcting Paint Flashing
- 1. Start with the SPATE checks
Flashing is an uneven appearance in the sheen of a painted surface.
- 1. Start with the SPATE checks
Entry 008Preparing and Painting Exterior Aluminum
- 7. Correct runs and avoid flashing
Depending on sheen and visibility, a local correction may flash. I typically recoat from natural break to natural break to obtain a uniform appearance. Allow proper drying and inspect again before accepting the repair.
- 7. Correct runs and avoid flashing
Entry 001Preparing and Repainting Cedar Siding
- 7. Inspect and correct the finish
After drying, inspect for uneven coverage, missed spots (holidays), flashing, and tannin bleed-through. Assess the complete area and transitions, not only the center of the siding boards.
- 7. Inspect and correct the finish
Entry 002Preparing and Painting New Drywall
- E / Execution: Inspect, correct, then continue
Losing the wet edge can leave visible overlaps or uneven sheen when an area begins drying before the adjoining area is painted.
- E / Execution: Inspect, correct, then continue
Entry 015Preparing and Painting Exterior Wood Trim and Fascia
- 9. E / Execution: Inspect the finish, seams, and exposed edges
If a touch-up leaves flashing, use Diagnosing and Correcting Paint Flashing to plan a uniform finish across the appropriate natural breaks.
- 9. E / Execution: Inspect the finish, seams, and exposed edges
Entry 003Repainting Previously Painted Interior Walls
- E / Execution: Inspect before moving forward
Checkpoint: At completion · What must be resolved: Missed areas, uneven cut-ins, roller marks, flashing, and inconsistent sheen.
- E / Execution: Inspect before moving forward
Entry 013Removing Wallpaper and Preparing the Wall for Paint
- 8. Inspect the primer and apply the finish coats
Look for missed areas or holidays, uneven coverage, roller marks, patch outlines, and differences in sheen or flashing. Inspect the final dried coat under the work light and the room's normal lighting, from more than one angle.
- 8. Inspect the primer and apply the finish coats
Entry 014Preparing and Painting Interior Doors and Trim
- 8. A + T / Application and Tools: Correct a run and restore an even finish
Field practiceI spot-coat the repair, then recoat the entire door to avoid flashing.
- 8. A + T / Application and Tools: Correct a run and restore an even finish