How to Keep Your Paint from Fading


How to Keep Your Paint from Fading
How to Keep Your Paint from Fading


Take a look around your house and you'll find certain areas of walls that are lighter than the rest. For whatever reason, the paint has faded over time. This can be annoying as it makes the rest of the wall look patchy, and you then have to deal with the irritation of painting over the faded area and somehow trying to match the new color to the rest of the wall.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to stop paint from fading and ensure the natural color lasts for as long as possible. Before we look at those, it helps to understand why paint can sometimes fade.

What causes fading paint?

A range of factors can cause this issue. Typically, interior paint fading comes from objects being placed over a certain portion of the wall. For example, you have a painting hung on the wall for years - this will usually result in faded paint behind it.

UV light from the sun can also make paint fade, and this happens both inside and outside of your house. You will likely see exterior paints fading on your property a lot faster than interior ones.

Lastly, the quality of the paint can also be a factor. Low-grade paints fade fairly quickly, mainly because they're more susceptible to the damaging properties of the sunlight.

So, how can you deal with this issue? Here are a few tips to try out:

#1 Choose the right sheen

Generally, paints with a more luminous or reflective sheen will last longer before fading than ones that are flatter and more matte. This is because certain sheens will absorb light from the sun a lot more than others, which ultimately makes them break down faster and fade. It's best to opt for things like semi-gloss or satin sheens as the reflective style reflects the sunlight, keeping the original color intact.

#2 Don't skimp on the paint quality

One of the golden rules of painting is to always find the best quality paint you can afford. If you're torn between two similar brands, but one is much cheaper than the other, it's almost always better to buy the more expensive version. The quality will be to a higher standard, made with higher-grade materials. Expensive paint tends to be made with things that are specifically designed to resist UV rays as well. So, this offers even more protection from fading. When you buy cheaper paint, you get what you pay for. It probably won't last longer than a couple of years before it starts to fade. What is the best house paint?

#3 Restrict the UV light from entering your interiors

Natural light is good for your home as it illuminates rooms and can bring out different colors. However, it's wise to try and restrict the amount of light entering your interiors throughout the day. The less light your rooms see, the less chance there is of the paint fading. The easiest way to do this is with blinds or curtains. Close them when you're not in a room, and you can save the walls from many hours of UV rays.

#4 Avoid using vibrant tones for your exterior paint

Your exterior paint will constantly be exposed to the sun's UV rays. Therefore, you have to be smart with the tones you choose to paint your house. Most painters will agree that brighter and more vibrant colors aren't a good idea. It's proven that colors like yellow, orange, and red will fade a lot faster than more neutral variants. Opting for neutral tones might sound boring to some of you, but it's the best way to keep the color for as long as possible.

#5 Don't stop at one coat of paint

Let's be honest, painting your house is hard work! Whether it's inside or out, you want to get the job finished as quickly as possible. So, many of you are perhaps guilty of only putting one coat of paint down. You want to speed through the rest of the job, and one coat looks good enough. Even if you've bought the best paint around, it's never a good idea to leave it with only one coating. The more layers you add, the longer the color will last. Why? Simply because the paint is slightly thicker, so it's harder to fade. You don't have to go overboard as you can waste a lot of paint, but two or three coats are enough to prevent fading.

Please feel free to use all of these tips when painting your home! They'll stop paint from fading and keep your property looking its best. If you need help with your next painting project, don't hesitate to get in touch today.


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