Why Does Paint Have an Orange Peel Texture?

Short answer

An orange peel texture appears when the paint or clear coat cannot flow out and level into a smooth surface after application. The surface is not completely dry or clearly matte, but it remains wavy, bumpy or uneven, similar to the skin of an orange.

This defect is most often seen in clear coat. It can be caused by dry spray, incorrect distance, moving too fast, unsuitable temperature, a wet coat that is too weak or, when using a spray gun, incorrect gun setup, pressure, viscosity or material that is too thick.

What is orange peel in paint?

Orange peel is a surface texture where the coating does not look smooth like glass after drying, but has fine waves, bumps or an uneven surface profile. The surface can still be glossy, but the reflection of light is not clean and straight.

On larger areas, the defect is especially visible when viewed against light. Reflections look blurred, wavy or distorted. In clear coat, this means that the layer did not flow out and level sufficiently after application.

Why does the paint not create a smooth surface?

After application, paint or clear coat continues to flow, join together and level for a certain time. If the conditions and layer thickness are correct, it can level into a smooth glossy surface. If it starts drying too quickly, is applied too dry or has unsuitable viscosity, the texture remains.

The result is a surface that may still be glossy, but is not flat. The coating did not have enough time or ability to join into a smooth continuous layer and left behind a texture similar to orange peel.

Most common causes of orange peel

• dry spray,
• too much distance from the surface,
• moving the spray can or gun too quickly,
• a weak wet coat without enough flow,
• unsuitable application temperature,
• solvents evaporating too quickly,
• material that is too thick when spraying with a gun,
• incorrect spray gun setup,
• unsuitable pressure or nozzle,
• insufficient overlap between spray passes.

Difference between dry spray and orange peel

Dry spray and orange peel are related, but they are not always exactly the same defect. Dry spray often looks rough, matte or grainy because the coating reaches the surface already partially dry.

Orange peel means that the coating did form a continuous layer, but it could not flow out and level enough. The surface may be glossy, but it remains wavy.

Orange peel when using a spray can

With a spray can, orange peel most often appears when the can is too far from the surface, the movement is too fast or the layer is too weak. The coating then does not land on the surface wet enough and has no chance to flow out correctly.

The problem can also be made worse by low temperature of the spray can, the painted part or the surroundings. Cold material flows worse and the final surface can remain much more textured.

Orange peel when using a spray gun

When using a spray gun, the cause can also be incorrect gun setup, unsuitable pressure, wrong nozzle or material that is too thick. If the material is too viscous, it atomises poorly and does not flow out well on the surface.

However, adding too much thinner is not the correct solution. Material that is too thin may seem to flow better, but it also increases the risk of runs, weak film build or other defects. Always follow the recommended thinning ratio and setup for the specific product.

What role does temperature play?

Temperature has a major influence on how the coating flows. The ideal application temperature is approximately 20–25 °C. At low temperature, the material is thicker, flows worse and reacts more slowly. At too high a temperature, solvents evaporate very quickly and the coating may dry before it has time to level.

It is important that the air, the painted part and the coating itself have a similar temperature. Spraying on a cold part, on a hot surface or in direct sunlight can significantly worsen the result.

How to prevent orange peel

• spray at a suitable temperature, ideally around 20–25 °C,
• keep the correct distance from the surface,
• move the spray can or gun smoothly and evenly,
• do not apply the layer too dry,
• with clear coat, create a sufficiently wet but still controlled coat,
• keep even overlap between spray passes,
• when using a spray gun, set the correct pressure, nozzle and material flow,
• follow the recommended thinning ratio for the product,
• do not spray in direct sunlight, in draughts or on a part that is too cold,
• test your technique on a test part before a larger job.

Can orange peel be repaired?

In clear coat, orange peel can often be repaired after the coating has fully cured. The surface can be finely sanded and then polished, or recoated depending on the extent of the defect. The repair must be done carefully to avoid sanding through the layer.

With effect paints, much more care is needed. The effect layer is normally not sanded like a final clear coat, because sanding can disturb the pigment, change the shade or damage the effect. The final smoothness should be created by correctly applied clear coat.

When is it better to recoat?

If the texture is very strong, the coating is uneven or the surface cannot be polished safely, it may be better to let the coating cure, prepare the surface and apply a new clear coat layer using the correct process.

On larger visible areas, repairing only a small spot may not always look perfect. Sometimes it is better to repair the whole visible area.

Summary

• Orange peel appears when the coating cannot flow out and level correctly.
• It is most often seen in clear coat as a wavy, bumpy or uneven surface.
• It can be caused by dry spray, incorrect distance, unsuitable temperature or a wet coat that is too weak.
• When using a spray gun, gun setup, pressure, nozzle or material viscosity can also be the problem.
• Clear coat must be applied wet enough to flow out, but not so heavily that it starts to run.
• After curing, orange peel in clear coat can often be repaired by sanding and polishing or by applying a new clear coat layer.