I also wonder if UV resistance is just better in automotive paints.
Not sure I’d give car paint that much credit. The thing is, automotive finishes get a clear coat with UV blockers baked in, but roofs—especially the cheaper coatings—usually don’t. Plus, most roof coatings are designed for flexibility and waterproofing, not looks. I’ve seen plenty of red cars turn pink after a few years in the Arizona sun, so it’s not just a roofing problem. Reds are notorious for fading fast, whether it’s on metal or metal-flake. Maybe the real issue is we all keep picking the hardest color to maintain...
Red paint is just cursed, I swear. My neighbor’s old pickup started out fire engine red and now it’s more like faded tomato soup, and that’s with him parking it under a carport half the time. Meanwhile, my budget metal roof (went with “barn red” because it was on sale) is already looking a little sunburned after just a couple summers. I guess if you want your stuff to stay red, you better keep it indoors... or just embrace the pink.
Red paint is a real heartbreaker, I’ll give you that. I had a 90s Chevy truck—factory “Victory Red”—and it faded out fast, even with regular waxing and mostly garage parking. The thing is, red pigments just don’t hold up to sunlight like some of the other colors. UV rays break down the pigment molecules, and red seems to be the worst for it. It’s not just the cheap paints either. Even high-end cars with fancy “candy apple” or “crimson” shades end up looking chalky after a few years in the sun.
I’ve noticed what you’re talking about with building materials too. My cousin put up one of those pre-painted steel roofs in a deep red, and it looked sharp for about two years. Now, it’s got that washed-out, orange-pink thing going on. Meanwhile, my green roof still looks halfway decent after a decade, and I’m not even that careful about cleaning it. Maybe it’s a pigment thing or maybe the red formulas are just more sensitive to heat cycles? Either way, it’s annoying.
Car brands having their own weird shades of red probably doesn’t help much either. Some look great at first but seem to fade faster than others. I suspect a lot of them just slap on whatever’s trendy that year without thinking about how it’ll age in real-world conditions.
If you’re set on red for anything outdoors, I’d say spend extra on paint with UV inhibitors, or resign yourself to regular touch-ups. Or just go with another color and save yourself the headache… unless you actually like that faded pink look (which, hey, some folks do). I get why people go for red—it pops—but unless you’re storing your stuff in a museum, you’re fighting a losing battle against the sun.
If you’re set on red for anything outdoors, I’d say spend extra on paint with UV inhibitors, or resign yourself to regular touch-ups.
That’s the truth. I went with a barn red on my shed, thinking it’d look classic. Three summers later, it’s already got that weird salmon fade. Meanwhile, the blue trim is holding up just fine. Seems like every brand’s “signature” red is just a different shade of disappointment after a few years in the sun. I guess if you really love red, you better love repainting too.
That salmon fade is all too familiar. Reds just don’t have the staying power outdoors, no matter the brand. Here’s what I’ve seen work:
—it costs more up front, but you’ll get a couple more years before it goes pink. Also, if you’re set on red, try a satin or semi-gloss finish, not flat. Holds up better in my experience. Still, expect touch-ups every few years... it’s just the nature of the beast.spend extra on paint with UV inhibitors
