UV Resistant Paint
Protecting Your Property from the Sun
UV resistant paint resists the heavy wear and tear that the sun ordinarily inflicts. Any paint suitable for outdoor use is a UV resistant blend, and many auto body shops and marine supply shops stock UV-resistant paints in a variety of colors.
One place where you've probably seen UV-resistant paints used, without even realizing it, is on the average house number sign. A house number sign takes a lot of abuse from the sun, wind, rain, and humidity. Ordinary paint would crack and peel off within just a few months. Modern manufacturers take care to use high-quality UV-resistant paints on each house number sign they sell.
The Effects of Outdoor Use
On an ordinary painted surface, constant exposure to the outdoors leaves a mark. Sun, grit, sand, and insects can all cause a house number sign to become faded and uneven in its appearance. Rain and humidity, as well as cold spells, can cause ordinary paint to chip, flake, and peel. Within two seasons, your house number sign may be looking older than some ten-year-old signs.
Part of the longevity of your house number sign is due to the material from which it's made, but the part the world sees is the paint. If the paint used on your house number sign is cheap and non-UV resistant, it will make an otherwise fantastic house number sign appear cheap and clumsily finished.
Materials and Paints
UV-resistant paint can be used on any of the surfaces from which your house number sign might be made. Wood, stone, or plastic can all hold a coat or two of UV-resistant paint. Some manufacturers, when carving out the letters in a house number sign, like to then coat the carved lines with paint to add emphasis. As long as the paint used is UV-resistant, this will not affect the beauty of your house number sign.
If you desire a long-lasting house number plaque, do your research. Decide on a pattern or design, then look into different materials, paint colors, and where you plan to place the house number sign. If it's going to be in a shaded area, UV-resistant paint is still a good idea, but your house number sign may need four or more coats to properly weather the sun in a shadeless area.
Lastly, it's wise to coat your home sign with varnish to preserve the colors and add a beautiful shine to your sign's surface. Ask the manufacturer what UV-resistant paints and varnish options they offer, and build your plan based on that. An informed decision will result in a beautiful house number sign you will treasure for years to come.