HOW TO PUT ON A SUPERIOR LIGHT SHOW

Make sure your client’s exterior paint is right for the environment and, where required, complies with local Light Reflectance Values regulation

New to the market, Levene Exterior Broadwall is a new exterior paint made to withstand New Zealand’s tough weather conditions. Available only from PlaceMakers, Levene Exterior Broadwall is durable, easy-to-apply and features built-in, long-lasting UV protection. The Levene paint range is tintable off the Dulux colour wall, featuring the iconic Dulux Colours of New Zealand.

The right light
When choosing your client’s exterior paint colours, it’s important to consider their Light Reflectance Value (LRV) – the amount of visible light reflected by a surface.

Black has an LRV approaching 0%, as it absorbs almost all light. In contrast, white has 100%. All other colours fall between these two numbers. The sheen level of the coating can also have an effect (Dulux LRVs are based on a low-sheen finish).

Any light absorbed by a coating is converted to heat, so a colour with a low LRV will get hotter than a colour with a high LRV.

Substrate guidance
Some substrate manufacturers recommend using colours that have LRVs above 45% to reduce the risk of substrate defects from heat absorption. On the other hand, some councils require LRVs of less than 40% in their district plans as they believe darker colours help structures blend into their environments.

As a rule, it’s best to follow the supplier’s LRV recommendations to avoid substrate movement, which can lead to warping, cracking and potentially leaking.

An outside job
Naturally, even the brightest and most vivid exterior paint changes in colour over time. The sun’s rays can act as a bleaching agent on the paint work and gradually change the original colour of the paint.

Dulux Weathershield ColourGuard, which is also available from PlaceMakers, is specially formulated for superior colour fade resistance, tintable to a range of popular dark Dulux Colours of New Zealand and Colorsteel colours. It contains heavy-duty reflective pigments, making it last up to twice as long as traditional premium exterior paints.