PAINT IT Black

The design trend of a darker color for doors and other home accents is on the rise. For interior building products, that is no problem, but for exterior products subject to the sun’s UV rays, that can be a problem….until now. Simpson has a solution if you want your exterior doors painted a dark color.

If you have ever touched siding, doors or other exterior products painted black, you already know what can happen. The temperature of these items can be much higher compared to if they are painted a light color. That higher temperature can cause components to move and the product to deteriorate over time. And this is true for almost any type of material: wood, fiberglass, PVC and others.

Know Your Paint's LRV

Did you know that all paints have a Light Reflective Value (LRV)? This is a measure of what percentage of light a paint color reflects and is presented from a scale of 0 to 100, like a percentage. Pure black has an LRV of 0, meaning it does not reflect any light or heat. Instead, it absorbs it all. Pure white has an LRV of 100, meaning it reflects all light.

Any paint with an LRV less than 55 is considered a dark paint for exterior products. So if your paint’s LRV is 55 or greater (lighter colors), you can select any Simpson door design and type of wood.

If your paint has an LRV less than 55, you can still have any beautiful Simpson door design, including any custom designs or alterations, but the door must be ordered the following way in order for the warranty to apply.

Doors Specs if You Want to Paint an Exterior Door a Dark Color

For the best product performance and for your door’s warranty to stay intact while painting the door a dark color, order your Simpson door with the following specs:

1. Select a design from the Nantucket Collection™ (77000 series).
2. Select Accoya as the wood type and Simpson will automatically prime the door at the factory. Also, your door will be made with mortise-and-tenon joinery with no face pin.
3. Your door will carry a 10-year warranty with no overhang required.