Paint befuddlement

[Delat]

I’m completely baffled by what’s happening here. I’m replacing some outside wall sconces and need to touchup the area.

This is literally leftover paint from when the house was painted 4 years ago, but the color changes to several shades lighter when applied! For reference in the video, this is the 3rd coat over 2 days with no change, and the area was already painted anyway just in a slightly different shade so the paint isn’t soaking in or anything like that.

The paint matches the original (darker color) perfectly when I put it on a piece of paper, and the stirring stick too - it’s just on the stucco that it lightens significantly. You can see the fresh paint in the container looks nothing like when it’s applied.

Anybody have any idea what’s going on???

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

That's pretty wild, honestly.

Could be you need to prime, despite having other paint under there. Could be that the paint has aged. Could be it wasn't stirred up enough.

 

[WildBoar]

it will always dry to a different shade than it looks when wet. But the paint that is already on the walls has been weathering and picking up dirt -- it no longer looks like it did when first applied. Also, as Holy said, probably need to stir more -- the cans get shaken on machines for a while when new, and some casual stirring is not nearly the same thing.

 

[MarcelNL]

add some black....colors get 'dirty' when exposed and pigments fade (add a droplet at a time and let it dry before adding anything more).

Also, do not make squarish -man made- sections....try dilute the paint and brush it over a wider area to help blend in....watch some Bob Ross videos ;-)

 

[Dan-]

Or just paint that entire wall after washing it.

 

[Delat]

I used a paint stirring attachment to my drill to mix the paint, combined with manual stirring. I repeated the stirring on the day 2, so it was very thoroughly stirred.

Weirdly when I paint a piece of cardboard, it’s an exact match for the existing wall. Ditto the paint on the stirring stick when I hold it up to the wall, and you can see the color in the container. It’s just on the stucco it magically it comes out several shades lighter than how it looks in the container.

Anyway, I went ahead and installed my lights so hopefully you guys are right and in a few years it’ll all match. I have 4 new lights with the paint mismatch now, but happy the little weekend project is over.

Here’s the original cheapo builder-grade light.

Replaced with 4 of these new beauties.

 

[Delat]

add some black....colors get 'dirty' when exposed and pigments fade (add a droplet at a time and let it dry before adding anything more).

Also, do not make squarish -man made- sections....try dilute the paint and brush it over a wider area to help blend in....watch some Bob Ross videos ;-)

The thought crossed my mind but that’s way beyond my skill level and sounds like a sorcerer’s apprentice type of thing just waiting to happen.

 

[MarcelNL]

The thought crossed my mind but that’s way beyond my skill level and sounds like a sorcerer’s apprentice type of thing just waiting to happen.

LOL, just be confident, there is no wrong...the current difference is larger ;-)

 

[mpier]

There should be a code on the can that tells the paint store how to duplicate the color, it may be worth your time to get a new quart of paint and try that. After four years the paint might just be too old. Places like Home Depot can match it without the code if you bring the original can with you.

 

[Dan-]

There should be a code on the can that tells the paint store how to duplicate the color, it may be worth your time to get a new quart of paint and try that. After four years the paint might just be too old. Places like Home Depot can match it without the code if you bring the original can with you.

I would never, ever trust the orange box to match anything, and I certainly wouldn’t use their behrly paint on anything I cared about. Dedicated paint stores like SW or Ben Moore have far superior coatings.

 

[mpier]

I would never, ever trust the orange box to match anything, and I certainly wouldn’t use their behrly paint on anything I cared about. Dedicated paint stores like SW or Ben Moore have far superior coatings.

It’s just a quart of paint, the actual suggestion is to get new paint.