FADING

Premature and/or excessive lightening of the paint color, which often occurs on surfaces with sunny southern exposure. Fading/poor color retention can also be a result of chalking of the coating.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

• Use of an interior grade of paint for an outdoor application.
• Use of a lower quality paint, leading to rapid degradation (chalking) of the paint film.
• Use of a paint color that is particularly vulnerable to UV radiation (most notably certain bright reds, blues, and yellows).
• Tinting a white paint not intended for tinting, or overtinting a light or medium paint base.

SOLUTION:

• When fading/poor color retention is a result of chalking, it is necessary to remove as much of the chalk as possible (see Chalking).
• In repainting, be sure to use a quality exterior house paint in colors recommended for exterior use.

Note: Images & information provided by The Rohm & Hass Paint Quality Institute.