When exterior paints aren’t capable of enduring the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, the unfortunate results are faded colors and a weak skin that allows damage to the building material underneath. Ultraviolet rays tend to deteriorate paint binders. The binder remains as part of the final paint film, holding the pigment particles in place. Most exterior paints contain resins that are naturally resistant to UV radiation. Look for an exterior paint that contains UV inhibitors or pigments that absorb or reflect the sun’s damaging rays and keep from reaching the substrate under the paint film.

Dark colors typically fade faster than light colors—this stands for interior and exterior.