Should I Paint That? Painting Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding has long been a favorite choice of homeowners – it’s inexpensive, durable, and attractive, all three valuable qualities in a material that will cover the outside of your home. Like everything, however, over time vinyl siding will begin to look worn out and old, or maybe you will just feel like you want to change things up a bit. Times like these, you’ll probably think, “I wonder if I could paint it.” You can!
Painting vinyl siding is not a particularly difficult task beyond the usual challenges of painting a house. What’s important is making sure that you are using the right products under the right conditions in order for your paint job to look nice and to last.
As always, the first, and arguably most important, step in the process is to clean the surface which you are going to paint. Particularly here, since we are talking about an exterior paint job, there will be dirt and grime that has built up over years of exposure to the elements. Probably the most effective cleaning method is an intense pressure washing, simply spraying away all the build up with the powerful force of water. If you have any stubborn spots that won’t seem to wash away you can try to scrub them off with a mixture of water, liquid bleach, laundry detergent, and powdered household cleaner. Starting with a clean surface is crucial to the longevity of the paint job.
Once your siding is nice and clean, you want to make sure that the time is right for painting. First of all, the siding should be completely dry. You can’t pressure wash in the morning and expect to be painting by that afternoon. Secondly, you don’t want to paint when the conditions are too humid, sunny, or windy. It might sound silly but all three of these meteorological events could affect the adhesion of the paint to the vinyl surface, causing chipping, cracking, and flaking in the long run.
Really the only other thing that you have to worry about with vinyl siding is choosing the right paint. One very important aspect to consider is color. Vinyl is only designed to be able to handle so much heat absorption and, if it absorbs excess heat, it could lead to buckling and warping. You will want to choose a color that is the same as or lighter than the current shade of the siding to avoid excess heat. Selecting the right kind of paint is also important to a successful job. You will want to use a latex urethane paint that is formulated for outdoor use. This particular kind of paint will adhere well to the vinyl and allow for the natural contraction and expansion of the material without cracking or chipping.
The very last element to consider is whether or not you will utilize a primer on your vinyl siding before the paint. Some experts say that the primer is unnecessary unless the vinyl is very old and pitted or porous, making it more difficult for the paint to adhere. Generally, this is true, but a nice layer of primer could help you create an even base for a more polished finished project. Either way, make sure that the paint you are using is meant to bond to the surface you are using it on, be it directly onto the vinyl or onto the primer.
And that’s it! Voila! Easy as one, two, three… Of course, painting the outside of your home comes with a fair amount of challenges, not the least of which is the need for special tools, ladders, scaffolds, and sprayers utilized to reach high places and create the most even coat. Even though painting vinyl is easy enough in theory, you might find that you’re simply not up for all of the hard work and time investment involved in an exterior paint job. If so, make sure you call PaintPositive. We are your NEO paint experts, using high-quality paints and materials to get the job done right. Schedule your free consultation on our website today.
