Even if you don't know what paint "alligatoring" is, you've probably seen it. Maybe you've even wondered if it's more likely to happen during the summer.

How can I restore the dull finish on an antique wood piece? Should we try to remove the varnish? Or just apply a really good beeswax furniture polish and leave it at that?

Cracking and alligatoring of paint is due to a lack of a primer, plus paint that is applied too thickly. The cure is obvious: Prime and put on thin coats. Flaking is cured the same way.

For alligatoring, most paint contractors will recommend completely remove the existing oil paint by using a heat gun, scraping, and sanding. After priming the reworked surface with a high-quality ...

Alligatoring is a cracking and flaking of the paint in a square pattern. It can result from applying paint over a previous coat that had a high-gloss finish that was not sanded, use of the wrong ...

Mildred Irizarry shows "alligatoring" — cracking paint — on the exterior of her Paterson, NJ, home. The cracking can be a sign of lead-based paint.

Should we try to remove the varnish and if so, how? Or should we just apply a really good beeswax furniture polish and leave it at that? A: Wood finishes can become dull over time in several ways.