Fine cracks in oil or alkyd paint that resemble crocodile skin.
Causes:
Repainting a surface painted with latex paint using alkyd paint (alkyd paint becomes harder than the latex paint during drying and starts to crack);
Applying the next layer of paint before the first layer has dried;
Natural ageing of oil paints in variable weather conditions. As a result of constant swelling and shrinking, the ductile properties of the paint layer deteriorate. Oil and alkyd paints in time continue to dry and lose their ductile properties.
Solution:
The old paint must be completely removed with a scraper or by polishing. You can speed up work by using a hot air hair-dryer. Then surface must be primed with an oil primer and painted with a high-quality outdoor paint. Latex paint does not crack since it preserves its ductile properties for a long time.