When we spray paint UPVC, we stamp the work with a 10-year guarantee which is a guarantee the paint will not fade, discolour, peel or flake in that time.
So, the short answer to the question of how long UPVC paint colour lasts for is 10-years – and that’s the minimum.
In reality, UPVC paint can last quite a bit longer. The colour of the paint itself will not fade because of the use of light stabilisers. These are used in the automotive industry to protect paint from degradation by UV light.
How light stabilisers in paint work
UV light is the enemy of any external paint because it is persistent and powerful. The damage to paints and plastics caused by UV light is a kind of sunburn, except as opposed to skin, the material can’t regenerate or heal.
As with human skin, the cause of UV damage to paints and plastics is through unwanted UV absorption and penetration. Light stabilisers are the equivalent of human sun cream – they stop the photochemical process that damages paints and plastics from taking place, often by absorbing the UV light in a safe way.
However, like sun cream, light stabilisers only work for so long. We’re confident the paint we use will resist UV degradation for 10-years, which is why we stamp all our spray-painting work with a 10-year guarantee.
Beyond 10 years, the paint will begin to lose its resistance to UV light in time. This could manifest itself as discolouration or colour fade.
A good rule of thumb is the higher quality the paint, the more stabilisers will be used in its production. The most common stabiliser in paint is titanium dioxide (TiO2) because it effectively absorbs UV light. A higher titanium dioxide count means greater resistance to UV fade, and in turn, a longer shelf life.
