Can you paint vinyl siding? This is a common question for homeowners looking to update their homes, whether you’re tired of your siding’s current color or it’s just starting to look a little faded. While painted vinyl siding is known for being relatively low-maintenance, it can dull and lose its vibrancy over time.
So, can you paint vinyl siding and give your home a whole new look? You’ll learn all about painting vinyl siding and decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Table Of Contents:
- Is It a Good Idea to Paint Vinyl Siding?
- Things to Think About Before Painting
- Painting Your Vinyl Siding
- It’s Painting Time
- FAQs About Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?
- Conclusion
Is It a Good Idea to Paint Vinyl Siding?
Although you CAN technically paint vinyl siding, it’s not always the best solution. It can be a great way to give your home a quick and relatively affordable facelift, but there are some important things to consider before you get started as it can potentially void your siding warranty and may not be as durable as new siding in the long run.
Why Homeowners Do Paint Their Vinyl Siding
The siding is the first thing people see. It’s one of the largest parts of your home. Updating it is a simple way to instantly improve your curb appeal. Here are some scenarios where painting your vinyl siding could be a good decision:
- Faded Siding: If your siding has lost its original color and luster due to sun exposure, a fresh coat of paint can restore its vibrancy and make your home look newer. You might love the original siding; you just wish the color looked newer.
- Color Change: Are you tired of your home’s current siding color? You may wish your vinyl siding came in a bolder shade. Painting allows you to customize the appearance of your house without the hassle of completely replacing the siding. Some major paint brands, such as Sherwin-Williams, have entire curated collections dedicated to vinyl-safe colors.
- Matching New Siding: If you’ve had to replace a section of your siding and the new siding doesn’t quite match the old, painting can be a more cost-effective option than replacing all of your siding to achieve a uniform look.
- Budget-Friendly Update: Replacing vinyl siding can be expensive. Painting your siding offers a budget-friendly way to make a big change in your home’s appearance. If you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to replace your vinyl siding, painting is a viable temporary alternative to increase your curb appeal.
Things to Think About Before Painting
Just like any major home renovation project, preparation is key. There are pros and cons to any big decision, and choosing whether to paint vinyl siding is no exception. Before you break out the paint brushes and rollers, consider the factors below. This is because choosing to paint can sometimes create more trouble down the road.
The Warranty
Painting your vinyl siding might void the warranty, meaning that the manufacturer won’t be responsible for repairing or replacing the siding if problems arise. Many siding manufacturers offer warranties, some up to 50 years. Before you start a paint project, reach out to the siding manufacturer to check if painting will affect the warranty. This is important, because if your freshly painted siding suddenly needs repairs and your warranty is void, the expenses will come out of your pocket.
Costs
Even if your warranty has expired, is painting really the most cost-effective option in the long run? While painting may seem like a quick fix, factor in how often you will have to repaint to keep your home looking great. This is because painted homes often need repainting every five years. Depending on weather, your local climate, and the integrity of the initial paint job, you may find yourself repainting even more often than that. Will that be less expensive than simply installing new siding in the first place? You may discover it’s more cost-efficient in the long run to simply invest in new siding right away rather than spend money on painting several times.
The Integrity of the Existing Siding
What kind of shape is your existing vinyl siding in? Vinyl siding provides your home’s first layer of protection from weather, pests, and water infiltration. But as siding ages it becomes more prone to damage. These issues could be hidden under layers of old paint if you aren’t paying close attention. While painting existing siding might be okay for the short term, it will only mask any underlying issues with the integrity of your siding, whereas new siding comes with the added benefit of allowing any repairs or necessary siding replacements to happen prior to installation.
Color Choices
Choosing to paint limits your color choices. For example, if you have light beige, grey, or white vinyl you are better off sticking to a similar color. Most importantly, choosing a darker color could void the manufacturer’s warranty. If you decide to paint the exterior of your house a deeper color, be sure to consider the effects dark paint can have on the lifespan of vinyl siding.
Darker colors tend to absorb and trap heat, causing vinyl siding to potentially warp over time. Plus, if you choose to paint the siding yourself, a poorly executed paint job is harder to fix if you choose a darker paint color. Although new paint formulas contain acrylic and urethane resins designed for painting vinyl siding, there’s no denying that choosing the same or a lighter paint color has the most benefit in the long run.
Painting Your Vinyl Siding
So, can you paint vinyl siding if you decide painting is the best option? Of course you can. As with any painting project, preparing the surface is the most important step to ensure the paint properly adheres and has a uniform look when it’s finished. If the siding is in bad shape, replacing it altogether will be a better long-term choice, while paint is ideal for cosmetic improvements such as updating a faded or changing a lighter color. Let’s walk through the steps for prepping and painting your siding to ensure you’re set up for success.
Tools and Materials Needed
Gathering everything you’ll need before you start makes the project go faster. Most of these tools and materials you will already have around the house. But remember to budget accordingly if you are renting power washers or other necessary items.
| Tools | Materials |
|---|---|
| Ladder | Latex urethane exterior paint for vinyl |
| Garden hose with a spray nozzle | Primer |
| Pressure washer | Painter’s tape |
| Bucket | Household cleaner |
| Drop cloths | Laundry detergent (powdered) |
| Soft-bristled brush for washing or a large cleaning cloth | Laundry bleach |
| Paint roller or paint sprayer (for large areas, a paint sprayer like those sold by Conde Nast Store offers the best, most even coverage.) | A latex-based paint additive, such as Floetrol to extend drying time on a windy day. |
| Paint tray | Ladder stabilizer, or standoff tool if working with second story siding |
Getting Started
Now it’s finally time to start making progress. With tools and materials gathered and plans in place, follow these steps to ensure a successful vinyl siding paint project.
Clean and Prep
- Clean: Using either a commercial cleaning solution specifically designed for vinyl siding or a solution of your own, thoroughly scrub the exterior of your home using your car washing brush or cleaning cloths. An easy DIY cleaning solution can be made using ⅓ cup powdered laundry detergent (Tide works great) and ⅔ cup powdered household cleaner (Spic and Span is perfect), then mixing with a gallon of water. For stubborn areas of mold or mildew add a quart of laundry bleach to your cleaning solution.
- Rinse: Rinse the exterior thoroughly. Work from the bottom of your house, moving upward, to help prevent streaking.
- Inspect and Repair: Any damaged sections of siding can be replaced, ideally with a matching product. If it’s difficult to find matching pieces of vinyl to do the repairs, you might consider purchasing siding of a similar style and then simply painting it to match.
- Decide About Primer: Refer to the recommendations of the manufacturer when deciding if primer is necessary for your vinyl siding. While using primer is often an extra step in the process, most paint manufacturers do recommend applying a primer, particularly for older siding, because primer gives the final paint coat a uniform look and helps ensure adhesion.
Choosing the Paint and Getting Ready
Your local hardware or home improvement stores have a lot of choices, which can get overwhelming, so ask a professional in the paint department to give you recommendations specific to your needs. The main things to remember when choosing the paint for your vinyl siding project are to avoid using dark paint colors and ensure you’re using the correct paint designed for exteriors.
- Vinyl-Safe Colors: You may have a bold new color scheme in mind for the exterior of your home. While this is certainly an achievable aesthetic change, choosing a bold color that’s dramatically darker than the siding’s existing color has potential downsides for your siding’s warranty, so if you have concerns always check with the manufacturer first. Choosing lighter shades will also help extend the lifespan of your new paint job because lighter paint tends to fade much slower than darker colors, and also decreases your siding’s exposure to damaging heat absorption.
- Correct Paint: It’s important to use high-quality paint specifically designed for exterior use on vinyl siding. These exterior latex urethane paints containing acrylic and urethane resins, like those from Behr and Sherwin-Williams, will give you better, more durable coverage. This specialized paint also expands and contracts to handle temperature changes, meaning that warping and cracking due to changes in climate will be minimized.
- PPE: Use appropriate PPE gear during both the cleaning and painting stages of the project. This is because not only will gloves keep paint off your hands but safety glasses or goggles also protect your eyes from the chemicals used in both cleaning products and paint, particularly during the pressure washing step of the project. You can find gloves, safety glasses, and other needed items in the cleaning supplies and paint departments of any reputable home improvement store.
It’s Painting Time
Once the surface has been prepared, the damaged parts of the siding have been repaired or replaced, and your drop cloths and protective painter’s tape is in place, you are finally ready to begin painting.
Before you begin the painting phase, you can estimate your total paint needed: a general guideline is that one gallon of paint covers about 300-400 square feet of surface. Here is the process professional painters would use, keeping in mind that using the correct tools, techniques, and quality products will increase the durability of your results.
- Large Areas: Begin with any large areas of your exterior, such as the expanse of the siding on the front of your house. Professional painters use paint sprayers when working with large areas. Paint sprayers will create a smooth and uniform surface that lasts longer and appears more professional than trying to hand paint such expansive sections. For the second story siding on a home, a ladder stabilizer helps to minimize damage while ensuring a steady work surface.
- Second Coat: The first coat of paint may have achieved decent coverage, but professionals would always apply a second coat for best results. After your initial paint coat has dried thoroughly, apply the second coat following the same procedures and guidelines.
- Touchups: Once the larger sections have been painted and the paint has had a full day to dry you are ready to go around and paint more intricate details using a paint brush for touchups and precise application.
Vinyl Siding Paint Maintenance
If you’re wondering if you can you paint vinyl siding and be finished for the next 20 years, sadly that’s not how painted siding works. The good news is, vinyl siding lasts 30-40 years before needing a siding replacement. But you’ll have to repaint periodically to maintain its fresh new look. Repaint as needed depending on local climate conditions and any unexpected storm damage.
On average, most homeowners repaint every 10 years. Keep the surface looking its best between repainting jobs by thoroughly pressure washing at least twice each year, with the goal of removing accumulated debris, mildew, and cobwebs after winter or storm season.
So, can you paint vinyl siding? Yes. And with regular care, cleaning, and periodic repainting, your updated siding will add curb appeal to your house for years to come.
FAQs About Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?
Is it a good choice to paint vinyl siding?
Although it can be done, it’s not always the best option. First, make sure your current warranty is expired, or that you are aware of what repercussions, if any, choosing to paint has on your warranty, before proceeding. It can sometimes be cheaper to install new siding than repeatedly repaint.
What kind of paint will stick to vinyl siding?
Using a specially formulated exterior latex urethane paint is vital. If you go into the paint department of your local hardware or home improvement store you’ll notice an entire curated section of vinyl-safe exterior paint color palettes by major paint companies like Benjamin Moore and Behr. Remember, although paint technology has improved, you’ll get the best results, both from a warranty and lifespan standpoint, by sticking to the same color or going lighter, while a darker shade may create unwanted long-term problems.
How long will my vinyl siding last if I paint it?
The great thing about this exterior building material is its expected lifespan of more than 20 years. According to home improvement sources, vinyl siding can last 60 years or even longer if properly maintained. As long as your paint jobs are executed properly and any damaged sections of the siding are promptly repaired, repainting as needed won’t affect the integrity and overall lifespan of the siding.
Will paint peel on vinyl siding?
Paint peeling on your freshly painted vinyl is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. While peeling can sometimes happen even with professionally executed paint jobs, due to weather damage or underlying problems with the siding’s quality, this common concern is greatly minimized by preparing the surface thoroughly and by making sure you’re using the right type of paint. Remember that exterior latex urethane paint containing acrylic and urethane resins is specifically formulated for vinyl siding.
Conclusion
Can you paint vinyl siding? Yes. You’ve learned about important aspects to think about such as how color choices could void the manufacturer’s warranty and how proper maintenance, including periodically repainting, is vital to ensuring the paint job lasts. So before starting a project think carefully about the pros and cons to be certain that painting your vinyl siding is truly the most practical choice.
Still have questions, or Need your vinyl siding repaired? Reach out to the pros at Campo Roof for a FREE quote.
