How to Match Paint Colors
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
How do you match paint colors if there is no record of the paint that was used?
Steps
- 1 get a sample of the paint (a shingle, sample of clapboard, cabinet face, length of trim). The bigger the sample the better up to 12 x 12 inches
- 2 take the sample to a local paint store where they match samples. Manufacturer owned stores that service commercial painting contractors will always have this capability.
- 3 ask the paint store to match the color on a architectural draw down card. You will need to purchase the paint the make to make this sample.
- 4 keep samples of all your matches for future record.
Tips
- paint exsposed to sunlight can shift over time; usually fading lighter; so try to get a sample from a substrate that gets as little sunlight as possible.
- ask the color matcher to darken faded samples by 10%-20%
- be prepared for multiple rounds of color adjusting if you want to get the color spot on.
Warnings
- not every color matcher is created equal; it is up to you to determine if a match is acceptable.
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Match Paint Colors. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
