How to paint anything the same color as the Golden Gate Bridge

Todd Lappin wrote a quick little how-to on how to paint anything the same color as the Golden Gate Bridge.

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Want to paint your home the same color as the Golden Gate Bridge?

We did, in our kitchen, so I made a few calls, including one to the purchasing manager of the Golden Gate Bridge itself. Here's what I learned:

The official paint is called Golden Gate Bridge International Orange (of course), and it's manufactured by Sherwin Williams. Who knew? But there's a catch. It's a custom mix, and only sold in very large (ie: commercial) quantities. Need 500 gallons? You're in luck. Want less? Don't panic.

After visiting a Sherwin-Williams dealer in San Francisco, I was told that the consumer color called "Fireweed" (color code SW 6328) is a color equivalent to the paint used on the bridge.

I was skeptical. Fireweed looked waaaay too dark when I saw it on a paint sample, so I drove out to the bridge to see for myself. Turns out, it's true: If you allow for a little natural fading on the bridge railing shown here, Fireweed (the bottom sample shown above) is indeed the same color as the bridge.

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