I painted my house a dark color and everyone said it was a mistake

For years I thought light colors were the only way to go for siding, especially in a sunny place like Phoenix. I went with a charcoal gray last fall because I liked the look, and all my neighbors warned me about heat and fading. After the first summer, my energy bill only went up by about $15 a month, which is way less than they predicted. The real tip-off was talking to a painter who said modern dark paints have way better UV protection than they did a decade ago. Now my house looks sharp and the color hasn't faded a bit. Has anyone else had a good experience going dark against the usual advice?

2 comments

2 Comments

perez.grace14d ago

Glad it worked out for you, but that's a pretty big risk to take just for looks. My cousin's place in Tucson baked after they went with a dark slate, and their AC ran nonstop. Maybe the new paints are better, but I'd still worry about the long-term heat soak on the building itself. Lighter colors just make more sense in the desert to me.

bailey.xena14d ago

It's the same with black cars in summer.