Why Paint Selection Matters for Trim-Tex Exterior Products
Paints used on exterior building materials come into direct contact with an abundance of sunlight, and certain paints and paint colors absorb all that sunlight rather than reflecting it. This will cause the material to heat up, which can lead to buckling, warping and/or excess movement of the material(s). These problems and more can be easily avoided by choosing the right paint colors for optimal performance.
Paint Types to Avoid with Trim-Tex Exterior Products
- Dark and non-reflective colors. Colors with low Light Reflective Value (LRV) — especially when not formulated with heat reflective technology — can absorb excessive solar energy. You should only choose paints with an LRV above 55.
- Non-acrylic or solvent-based paints. Avoid oil-based, alkyd or hybrid formulations. Trim-Tex Exterior beads and accessories should be used with exterior 100% acrylic latex paint.
- Custom or independently matched colors from local vendors. Paints mixed onsite or at big-box retailers often lack formulation controls, and this variability can change the LRV of the paint — potentially damaging the product due to heat absorption. Custom colors are best avoided, and should only be used if they’re made from a specialty paint featuring solar-reflective properties.
Best Practices for Safe Paint Use
- Your favorite paint store may already stock a line of paint produced for the specific purpose of coating exterior-grade PVC products (e.g., Sherwin-Williams’ VinylSafe® color palette, Benjamin Moore’s “Colors for Vinyl®” palette, PPG’s SidingSafe® Color Technology palette). Call your local vender to check for availability!
- Always verify the LRV of a paint before using it. If the paint has an LRV below 55, do not use it on Trim-Tex Exterior beads.
- Stick with 100% acrylic exterior latex paints. These are engineered to expand and contract with the substrate and provide long-lasting adhesion.
- Use pre-approved colors or formulations, especially for darker shades — preferably those incorporating solar-reflective additives.
- Obtain and review paint samples or swatches, and avoid relying solely on digital or printed representations.
- When in doubt, consult technical documentation or reach out to Trim Tex for guidance on acceptable paint types for specific finishes or climate conditions. Learn how to contact us here.
What is a Light Reflective Value?
Paint colors always have some LRV to measure its ability to reflect or absorb light, and the LRV number corresponds to the percentage of light reflected by the paint. So, higher LRV numbers means more light is reflected (e.g., true white paint has an LRV rating of 100) and lower number absorbs more light and, as a result, heat (e.g., black paint has an LRV rating of 0).