In all cases, the quality of pre-painting preparation will impact the life of a paint job, no matter what paint is used. Having said that, paints come in a range of grades and associated price points and (broadly speaking) the more expensive the paint, the longer it is supposed to last. Certainly the paint manufacturers make that claim, but what is it based on?
Longevity and Durability Testing
Paint manufacturers subject their formulations to a variety of tests to determine paint longevity. “Longevity” refers to how long the paint looks good, adheres to the surface it was applied to, and continues to protect that surface.
With respect to exterior paints, the tests expose the coatings to various simulations that mimic weather and environmental conditions, subjecting them to the stresses to which exterior paints will be exposed. Exterior paints are also tested to determine how they’ll stand up to repeated cleaning over time; how well they’ll adhere to the substrate over time, and how their colors fare after years of exposure to sunlight.
Testing includes:
- Environmental Simulations
- Mechanical Resistance Testing
- Adhesion Testing
Environmental Simulations
Paint is exposed to heat, cold, humidity, salt spray and UV radiation to determine if/when it will discolor/fade, deteriorate or corrode. The tests are created to mimic both the conditions themselves, and effects of exposure over long periods of time.
Mechanical Resistance
Tests are conducted to evaluate how the paint responds to washing and scrubbing, to temperature fluctuations, and to abrasions from rain, snow, hail.
Adhesion Testing
Do they or when do the paint coatings crack or peel?
Guarantees
Quality paint manufacturers typically offer guarantees for the lifespans of their paints. Not surprisingly, they always come with caveats: paint must have been applied within specified temperature guidelines, over appropriately formulated primers (when applicable) and on properly prepared and designated substrates. (Use the right paint for the right substrate.) But with all of that, manufacturers do stand by their stated longevity estimates and thus longevity estimates do indicate the overall “quality” of the paint.