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Technical Insights: Why Do Dark Colors in Siding and Window Profiles Fade Faster Outdoors?

Written by Holland Colours | Sep 30, 2026, 7:00:01 AM

Technical Insights with Emily Fisher

Dark colors can give siding, window profiles and other exterior building products a strong, premium appearance. But outdoor exposure also creates a demanding environment for color performance.

Heat, sunlight and moisture can accelerate weathering, particularly in darker shades that absorb more heat than lighter colors. Over time, this can affect appearance, durability and the long-term performance expected from exterior building products.

In this edition of Technical Insights, Holland Colours’ R&D Chemist Emily Fisher explains why dark colors face greater weatherability challenges outdoors and how the right color technology can help improve long-term performance.

Watch the video

The video explores:

  • Why dark colors absorb more heat than lighter shades
  • How sunlight, heat and moisture contribute to outdoor weathering
  • How Holland Colours develops color solutions for long-term outdoor performance
  • How accelerated and natural weathering tests help evaluate durability
  • Where weather-resistant color solutions can be used in exterior building applications

 

About the expert

Emily Fisher is an R&D Chemist at Holland Colours, specializing in coloration and long-term outdoor performance for Building & Construction applications. Her work focuses on developing color solutions that combine strong aesthetics with the durability required for exterior use.