What Steps Do We Take To Prevent Paint From Fading Over Time?

Painting your commercial building is one of the best ways to spruce it up without spending a lot of money. You can give your business a fresh new look that will boost your curb appeal and encourage potential customers to step inside. 

However, paint does fade over time, and dull, chipped paint isn’t exactly inviting. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent your paint from fading.

Find out more about commercial painting Orlando

Why Does Paint Fade?

Paint does fade. You might not even notice it until you look behind that shrub or that cabinet and notice the color difference. That’s because paint generally fades uniformly over time, but what exactly causes this fading?

Basically, the pigments in your paint can react to sunlight or chemicals in the environment, like oxygen or ozone. This causes them to change their structure and, therefore, their color. This happens because of the UV rays in the sunlight, but not all colors fade in the same way.

Darker colors may fade more quickly in sunlight since they absorb more heat. On the other hand, lighter colors like yellow, orange, and red, tend to be more susceptible to fading in general. This is why you do need to make sure you’ve bought paint specifically for exterior use, and that you shouldn’t overdo the paint—too many layers of paint can also cause fading.

Beyond natural factors, paint can fade if it isn’t applied correctly. For example, if you don’t prime the wall before painting, the old color might bleed through and cause the walls to appear dull. You might also not be painting evenly if you’re doing it yourself, which may cause your paint to fade more quickly and more noticeably in some places.

What Steps Do We Take To Prevent Paint From Fading Over Time?

You can’t account for every factor that makes your paint fade. Just sunlight can make your paint fade, and of course, weather conditions might expose your paint to lots of humidity, dryness, or rainfall that impacts your coloring.

Quality

You can still do a few things to prevent your paint from fading. That includes beginning with good quality exterior paint that is more fade-resistant. While you might be tempted to choose paint that’s cheaper yet lower quality, you’ll be better off picking something high-quality.

Sheen

You’ll also want to choose something with a reflective sheen. Reflective paint generally reflects light, which helps the color of the paint last longer outside. 

Of course, the actual color of the paint matters too. Neutral colors are better for outside, and if you want something brighter, maybe use it for accents like the door. At the very least, it will be much easier to repaint your door when that starts to fade rather than your entire building.

Technique

Now, you shouldn’t overdo it on the painting, but if you apply the paint evenly and well, multiple coats can actually be a good thing. When done right, more coats will reinforce the previous coat and make the color look even better for even longer. You do need to make sure to paint evenly, though, which will go a long way.

Conclusion

You want the paint on your business to stay in good condition for as long as possible. While you can’t control the sunlight or the weather, you can control what type of paint you use and its application. To save yourself the hassle, entrust your commercial painting to us. 

As painting experts, we know the right techniques and can advise you on the correct paint. With our knowledge and expertise, you can be confident that your paint will stay in good condition and remain fresh and inviting for a longer time.