Painting with Dark colors on exterior exposures (houses or commercial)

The sun, excessive moisture and cold weather are harsh on exterior surfaces.  One clear instance of this is when you see a dark color begin to fade, oxidize, chalk or show lines.  This happens because deeper base colors have more colorant in it and the colorant in paint tends to be less resistant to paint fading than the other ingredients in the typical can of exterior paint.  Another reason oxidizing can occur is when the surface that is painted is reacting chemically from the underside.  Two examples:   When cement or cement composite surfaces help to discolor a dark paint because of efflorescence.   Efflorescence is when salt comes out of cement/concrete surfaces and makes “white marks” or “chalk marks”. The 2nd example is when a galvanized metal is painted without the proper prep.  When you have an instance where you have a deep base color that is fading, you have to use the correct primer (if its an instance of a concrete composite surface) and use a top coat that resists fading.  There are a few top coats that do much better against fading in deep base color, and there are primers that are made to block and adhere to cement or properly prepared galvanized surfaces.  If you use the correct products and process the results should be excellent.  The pictures are of a job where we painted a deep red on the entry doors of some condos in St. Paul, MN.  The previous paint was fading, discolored and mis-matched.  We prepped correctly and used the correct top coat to resist fading.

Call Nick with Complete Custom Painting LLC 651-336-0561