Do Faux Stone Panels Fade? What to Expect Outdoors and How to Protect the Color

If you're thinking about faux stone on the outside of your house, you've probably wondered whether it will still look the same in five or ten years. It's one of the most important questions to ask before you buy, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a sales line.

The short answer

Fading is uncommon. When an outdoor wall does change, it happens slowly and gradually over many years, and it's normally not very noticeable. Like anything that lives outside, from your front door to your siding, a faux stone wall is exposed to sun and weather, so a little care helps it keep its color.

What matters is how slowly it happens and what you can do about it. Our panels are hand finished with exterior-grade, water-based pigments that contain UV inhibitors, which helps protect the color. A compatible light UV-protective topcoat every 3 to 5 years, depending on how much sun the wall gets, keeps the color close to where it started.

In other words, there's no need to worry about it, and no reason to ignore it either. An afternoon every few years keeps the wall looking the way it did the day it went up.

Why outdoor finishes can change over time

Outdoor walls deal with sunlight, weather, temperature changes, moisture and whatever is in the air around them. Over many years, sun and weather can gently soften the color of almost any exterior finish. With our panels, that change is uncommon and gradual.

The color on our panels is a finish, not dyed stone. Each panel is hand finished by artists, which is what gives the stone its natural color movement and variation from panel to panel. That hand finish is also the part of the panel that the sun works on, which is why we build UV protection into the pigments and recommend a topcoat outdoors.

Real stone is different here, and we'll say so. Real stone doesn't fade the way a finished surface does. If a wall you never want to think about again is the top priority, our faux stone vs. real stone veneer comparison covers when real stone is the better call.

What affects how a wall's color holds up

Every outdoor wall is different. These are the things that make the biggest difference:

• How much direct sun the wall gets. A wall that bakes in afternoon sun all summer gets far more UV than a shaded porch wall or a north-facing wall. That's why our topcoat guidance is a range, every 3 to 5 years, rather than a fixed date.
• The local environment. Our panels have been installed in all kinds of climates, from hot, humid South Florida to northern freeze-thaw winters and desert sun, including homes near the coast. A wall in strong, year-round sun simply sees more exposure than a covered entryway.
• How the wall is cleaned. Power washing, harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbing all wear a finished surface. They're also excluded from our warranty (more on that below).
• Whether it's indoors or outdoors. The fading guidance on our site is about exterior walls exposed to sun and weather. Indoors, the main thing to think about is cleaning gently.

How to protect the color: a simple care schedule

Keeping an outdoor faux stone wall looking good isn't complicated. Here's the routine we recommend.

When you install

• Order everything at once. Pigments are applied by hand, so color can vary slightly from batch to batch (roughly 10% to 15%). A second batch ordered months later may not sit invisibly against the first, and that's even more noticeable once a wall has weathered.
• Mix panels from several boxes as you go, so the natural variation spreads evenly across the wall.
• Touch up cut edges with a touch-up kit matched to your color. Each kit includes a brush, a wiping rag and 1 to 6 touch-up bottles, depending on the color.
• Keep a touch-up kit on hand for later. It's useful for scuffs and small marks years down the road.

Every year or so

• Clean gently. Most dirt comes off with a hose, or water and a very mild soap. Light dusting is often enough indoors.
• Skip the pressure washer. Power washing and high-pressure washing aren't recommended and aren't covered by the warranty. The same goes for bleach, ammonia-based products, chlorine, solvents and other harsh chemicals.
• Look the wall over. Check for scuffs, chips or spots where a string trimmer has hit it. Small repairs are relatively easy because the texture is deep and three-dimensional, so filler and touch-up paint blend in well.

Every 3 to 5 years

• Apply a compatible light UV-protective topcoat. Use a quality exterior clear topcoat from a brand such as Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore or PPG. Sunnier, more exposed walls sit at the 3-year end of the range. Shaded or sheltered walls can go longer.
• Always test first. Try the coating on a small, hidden area and give it enough time to judge how it looks before you do the whole wall.
• Use only compatible coatings. Unapproved paints, coatings, chemicals or finishes may void the warranty. If you're not sure whether a product is compatible, call or text us at 866-771-2345 or email support@tritanbp.com before you start.

Noticed a change? How to bring the color back

If, after many years, a wall has started to look a little tired, you have options.

• Send us photos first. If you notice fading, call, text or email us with photos so we can take a look and tell you what we'd do.
• Touch up only where it's needed. Use the brush from your touch-up kit: shake the water-based paints well, apply, let it sit for about 20 seconds, then wipe lightly with a rag and let it dry. Only touch up the area that needs it, because painting over the existing finish can darken it.
• Then protect it. Once the color is where you want it, a compatible UV-protective topcoat helps it stay there.

What the warranty says about fading

We'd rather you hear this from us now than discover it later. Tritan BP panels carry a 25-year limited, prorated warranty from the date of purchase, covering manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship.

Normal fading and weathering are not covered, because they aren't a defect. The warranty also excludes damage from power washing, harsh chemicals, impact and storm damage, and unapproved adhesives or coatings. It covers the product only, not labor, removal, reinstallation or freight.

Choosing a color for a sunny wall

Stone reads differently outdoors than it does on a screen or under kitchen lights. Daylight, the siding or brick beside it and which way the wall faces all change what you see. Before you choose a color for an exterior wall:

1. Order a sample and hold it against the actual wall.
2. Look at it at different times of day. Bright light can make colors look lighter and more vibrant. Dim light makes them look darker or more muted. Warm light brings out yellow, brown or red tones, and cool light can make colors look slightly blue or gray.
3. Check it beside your trim, roof and front door, not on its own.

Lightning Ridge, a popular collection for exterior walls, comes in Nature's Spirit, Cappuccino, Gray Fox, Moonlight Gray, Biscotti Tan, Coconut White and Oyster Gray. Every color is available as a sample. Samples are $15 each and ship free, and the cost of up to 4 samples comes back to your Tritan BP account as store credit toward a future order. The credit doesn't expire and can't be redeemed for cash. Samples typically ship the same day if ordered by 12:00 noon ET and can be received in 2–3 business days. Order a sample.

Which of our panels can go outdoors?

All of our faux stone, brick and concrete collections are rated for exterior use, including Lightning Ridge, Earth's Valley, Canyon's Edge, Harvest Ledge, Cotswold Stone, the faux brick collection and the concrete collection.

The one exception is Stick-A-Stone, our peel-and-stick panel. It's designed for interior use, and we don't recommend it outdoors because its adhesive backing hasn't been tested for exterior applications.

Whatever you choose, the panels are decorative. They go over the wall's weather-resisting layer; they don't replace it. Always follow your local building codes. For the full exterior picture, including surfaces and installation, see our faux stone siding guide and Can You Use Faux Stone Panels Outdoors?

Frequently asked questions

Do faux stone panels fade in the sun?

Fading is uncommon. Our panels are hand finished with exterior-grade, water-based pigments containing UV inhibitors. Outdoors, any change is slow and gradual over many years and normally not very noticeable, and a UV topcoat every 3 to 5 years helps keep the color looking its best.

How often should I apply a UV topcoat?

Every 3 to 5 years for outdoor walls, depending on how much sun the wall gets. Use a compatible light UV-protective topcoat, such as a quality exterior clear topcoat from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore or PPG, and test it on a small hidden area first.

Does the warranty cover fading?

No. Normal fading, weathering and color change from UV exposure aren't covered, because they aren't a defect. The 25-year limited, prorated warranty covers manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship.

Can I pressure wash faux stone panels?

No. Use a hose, or water and a very mild soap. Power washing and harsh chemicals can damage the finish and are excluded from the warranty.

Can I refresh a spot that has changed color?

Yes. A touch-up kit matched to your color can blend small areas, and a compatible topcoat helps protect the result. Send us photos first and we'll help.

Does real stone fade?

Not the way a finished surface does. That's one of the honest trade-offs between real stone and faux stone panels, and it's covered in our comparison.

Talk to us about your wall

Planning an exterior wall and want to know what to expect where you live? Send us a photo and the measurements. We'll tell you which collection suits it, how many panels it takes and what you need to finish the edges. Call or text 866-771-2345 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET) or email support@tritanbp.com.