Your garage door paint will fade over time. This is simply one of the realities of paint. But what is the reason for a fading garage door? If you’ve wondered about the cause, let’s explore this concept.
Causes Of A Fading Garage Door
There are a few different things that contribute to paint fading on a garage door. The most prominent cause of the problem is the sun. When sunlight hits your garage door – specifically, ultraviolet rays – the door will gradually fade over time.
In fact, the amount of sunlight that your garage door receives is a big factor in determining how quickly the paint will fade. If your garage door faces towards the sun, you will see paint fading a lot quicker. This is simply a reality of the environment.
However, the sun is not the only thing that affects a fading garage door. Other weather-related factors like wind, dirt, and rain can affect it as well. These things work to wear down any protective finishes on the door, making it less resistant to the sun.
A Look Inside Paint
To understand why you have a fading garage door, we must first look inside paint. Specifically, we will take a look at its chemical properties. Paint is composed of different pigments that give it color. These pigment molecules have a portion called a chromophore, which causes a specific color to be seen.
In a way, sunlight attacks these chromophores by exerting heat and energy onto them. Chemical reactions within the pigment molecules cause their bonds to break down over time. Certain pigments can also react with other things in the atmosphere like oxygen to cause bonds to break down.
Once the paint pigments have lots of broken bonds, particularly in the chromophore areas, the color begins to be perceived as duller. Thus, it is the chemical interactions between the sun and your paint that serve to make your garage door paint fade over time.
What Can I Do About This?
Products have increasingly been improved to protect against fading. For example, many paints now have added substances that provide protection and decrease the rate of fading by reflecting ultraviolet rays. However, even the best paint will still fade over time.
When you notice that you have a fading garage door, you can always give us a call at NewLook Coatings. We service the Canterbury area, but can cover the South Island (travel charges may apply). We would be happy to discuss the options for restoring your garage doors. Contact us at your convenience to chat with one of our professionals.