25/07/2026
Not every peeling paint is caused by roof leakages or rising damp.
Most people blame paint failures on water leakages or poor damp-proofing, and while those are common causes, they are not the only ones.
As someone who has spent years in home finishing and project management, I've seen another major culprit that is often ignored: the type of sand used for plastering.
In many parts of Nigeria, a type of plaster sand commonly called mud sand is widely used. It contains a high percentage of clay. Contractors often prefer it because it:
Reduces cement consumption.
Makes plastering easier and faster.
Produces a smooth-looking finish at the early stage.
To reduce the clay content, it is usually mixed with sharp sand. However, mixing it does not completely remove the effects of excessive clay.
Over time, walls plastered with high-clay sand are more likely to experience problems such as: • Paint peeling. • Cracking. • Weak adhesion of finishes. • Frequent wall maintenance.
Unfortunately, when these defects appear, the blame often falls on the painter or screeder, or people assume inferior materials were used. In many cases, the real problem started much earlier—during the plastering stage.
The foundation of every beautiful finish is a quality plaster.
If you're building or supervising a project, be intentional about the sand used for plastering. Spending a little more on quality materials today can save you from repeated maintenance costs tomorrow.
As professionals, we may benefit from maintenance jobs, but I'd rather see homeowners build right the first time than keep spending money fixing avoidable problems.
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Build once. Build right. — Fxco Paints &
Finishes