Vancouver’s Best Painters Talks About Fading

All colour pigments will fade after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, but certain conditions speed up the process. Using a colorant designed for interior use on an exterior surface causes more rapid fading.  The use of a tinting base made with chalking type pigments to make an exterior colour also encourages the problem.  Applying only one coat in a two coat situation is another cause.  Moisture behind the paint film can eventually leach pigment from the film.  Alkali burns on masonry surfaces can contribute to fading.

Solutions For Fading

Once colour has faded, the only solution is to repaint.  Latex finishes are generally better than oil or alkyds for colour retention.  Use colorants formulated for exterior use only, which local suppliers can recommend.  Correct any possible sources of moisture such as cracked caulking or clogged gutters and downspouts. New construction usually requires a primer and a finish coat.

On unpainted masonry, use an alkali-resistant primer appropriate for the intended finish coat.  On burnt surfaces, scrape away as mch of the paint as possible and spot prime the bare spots with an alkali resistant latex primer.  Apply a full coat of primer after this and finish with a latex masonry paint finish coat.  Acrylic paints have proven to be excellent products for color and gloss retention.

Rick Anderson www.vancouversbestpainters.com www.vancouverindustrialpainting.com www.604painters.com