Visual Match Colors: Why You Can’t Mix Paint Runs on a Job
Are there colors you should NEVER mix from different paint runs? Yes—visual match colors. Metallics, matte/antique black, and bright reds/blues) can vary between batches—and what to do so you don’t end up with tiger striping or mismatched panels on the same project.
Are there colors you should NEVER mix from different paint runs? Yes—visual match colors.
In this Q&A Mondays, metal roofing expert, Thad Barnette and Sheffield Metals’ Tom Southerland explain why certain colors (like metallics, matte/antique black, and bright reds/blues) can vary between batches—and what to do so you don’t end up with tiger striping or mismatched panels on the same project.
What you’ll learn:
►What “Visual Match Colors” means and how paint lines verify color
►Which color families are most sensitive (metallics, matte/antique black, bright reds/blues)
►Why even small differences show on wide panels and large roof planes
►How to plan jobs to avoid mixing (use one side per batch when necessary)
►How SMI tracks paint runs and how contractors can verify a batch
Key takeaways:
►Do not mix metallics—period. They’re directional and batch-sensitive.
►Matte/antique black and some vibrant colors are also batch-sensitive.
►If you must use multiple batches, isolate them on different roof elevations/sides.
►Call Sheffield Metals with your coil number or PO to match an ongoing job
