If you’re looking to refresh the exterior of your home, the siding may be one of the first places you look. But can you paint vinyl siding? Yes, you can. Painting your exterior vinyl siding is a budget-friendly and easy way to update your home’s look.
Before starting this home renovation project, however, it’s important to know how to paint vinyl siding. Read on to learn the basics of painting your vinyl siding, along with certain factors to keep in mind before, during, and after the process.
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Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?
Painting vinyl siding is a great way to breathe new life into your home while also extending its longevity for a few more years. Before starting, though, it’s important to ensure that you have the right type of paint for the project. Vinyl siding paint should be acrylic to protect the surface while also allowing it to adhere to the material correctly for long-term results.
Vinyl’s popularity and versatility mean that it’s one of the most common types of siding to be painted. Painted vinyl siding is an easy way to keep your home looking refreshed and updated without breaking the bank.
How Long Does Painted Vinyl Last?
In general, vinyl siding should last for at least 20 years. However, depending on what the climate is like where you live, how old your siding is, and other factors, homeowners may need to look into replacing or painting the siding sooner rather than later. After you paint vinyl siding, it should give your home another 5-10 years of life as long as it is properly maintained.
How to Paint Your Vinyl Siding
Thankfully, painting the siding on a house is a relatively straightforward process. While it can be time-consuming, depending on the size of the building, it doesn’t require expensive equipment or professional know-how.
Before starting, it’s important to make sure that painting vinyl doesn’t void the warranty in case you do need to repair or replace the siding later on. If the warranty has already expired, though, painted vinyl siding is a great way to upgrade your home for a lesser cost. After doing this, ensure that you inspect, clean, and prime your siding before starting the painting process.
Before you paint, be sure to check for hail and storm damage to your siding.
1. Have Your Siding Inspected
Before even cleaning your home’s siding, it’s important to first have it inspected. This can ensure that your home doesn’t have any serious issues that paint for siding may make worse. An inspection may show decayed or damaged wood under the siding, holes or leaks in caulking or trim, or rot or water damage. Inspecting your siding can help save you money and time in the long run by ensuring these issues are addressed before painting.
2. Thoroughly Clean Your Siding
Then, you will need to thoroughly clean the exterior of your home. Just like painting an interior wall, prepping the surface will help make sure that the siding is free of all mold, mildew, dirt, and other debris that may have stuck to your home over the years. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a pressure washer with a vinyl-safe cleaning solution. You can even mix a solution at home by using laundry detergent and other household cleaners. A pressure wash of your existing siding is a great way to prep for a fresh coat of paint.
3. Prime Your Siding and Tape Off Doors or Windows
Priming your home’s siding will help the paint adhere better to the surface while also giving it an extra layer of protection from the elements. Also, you need to tape off your doors and windows before starting, as this will ensure the paint doesn’t go where you don’t want it. Other factors to consider before painting your siding include:
- Choosing a Color: There are many options to choose from when painting your siding, but it’s generally better to avoid darker colors. Darker options will trap heat during the warmer months, potentially leading to other damage as well.
- Safety Materials: If you’re painting your home’s siding, you will want to consider getting safety equipment, such as gloves, goggles, and a sturdy ladder before starting.
- Equipment: Some other equipment you’ll need to start painting include paintbrushes (or a paint sprayer) and drop cloths to protect your home’s lawn.
4. Paint
Now, it’s finally time to paint! Using a paint sprayer will be much easier than a brush or roller, as it will give you a more even coat. When you start painting, start at the top of your home and go down. This will ensure that you can fix any drips or other issues along the way.You will want to apply at least two coats of paint. This helps make sure that your home is evenly coated. However, ensure that the first coat is entirely dry before starting the second round of painting. Some other tips to keep in mind while painting include:
- Go Back With a Brush for Touch-Ups: While using a paint sprayer will help you coat the home more evenly, you can go back with a roller or brush to touch up areas that may have too little or too much paint.
- Check the Weather Before Starting: You don’t want to paint in the rain or direct sunlight, as this could affect how the paint dries.
- Paint Large Areas First: Painting large areas first allows you to see if the paint dries the way it should before moving on to smaller details, like the trim.
5. Maintenance
To ensure the longevity of your paint job, you’ll want to practice regular maintenance. Some ways to do this include:
- Regularly Wash Your Home’s Exterior: Washing your home’s siding two or three times a year can help make sure that mold, dirt, or debris doesn’t build up or damage your home.
- Weatherproof Your Home: Resealing cracks, investing in protective roof shingles, and keeping your home’s gutters clear all help weatherproof and protect the entire home, including the siding.
- Apply Protective Coat: There are also vinyl protective coats that you can put on your home to seal it and keep it safe from the elements.
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Can You Paint vinyl Siding? Factors to Consider
Now that you know the answer to “Can vinyl siding be painted?” before you start the job, there are certain factors to consider. Painting your siding may not be the best option in every case – sometimes, it is better to replace it altogether if it is too damaged or worn. Paint for vinyl siding won’t be able to fix structural issues either.
So, before you decide to start painting, first consider the following factors.
Siding Age
As mentioned earlier, siding can last anywhere from 20-40 years, depending on the material and upkeep. If your siding is relatively new and just needs a simple spruce, painting may be the way to go. However, if your siding is getting to be a bit too old, it may be a better idea to replace it entirely.
Climate and Weather
The climate and weather of where you live can also impact the longevity of your siding. Harsher weather conditions, such as intense storms, heat, or rain, will wear your siding much faster than temperate climates will. Midwestern weather, with its snowy winters and humid summers, often requires more upkeep.
Cost: DIY vs. Hiring Professionals
Cost is another important factor to consider. Hiring a professional painting company, while more expensive in the short term, will also lead to better results that may save you time and money in the future. However, hiring professionals isn’t necessary in all cases, so if you are more wary of the cost of siding paint, you can DIY it as well.
Painting vs. Replacing
If your siding is damaged or torn, painting it won’t fix the problem. In this case, replacing your home’s siding will be the better option. Minnesota Exteriors can provide a free inspection and quote so that you have all the information you need when considering to paint or replace your siding.
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Painting Vinyl Siding Pros and Cons
Painting your home’s siding can have both pros and cons. The benefits of painting your home that may lead you to start the job include improved curb appeal, increased longevity, and smaller costs. However, it’s also important to consider the cons. These may point you towards replacing your siding instead, such as increased damage risk, unpredictable results, and regular upkeep.
Pros: Reasons to Consider Painting
Painted siding can provide your home with many benefits, such as:
- Improves Appearance and Curb Appeal: Painting your siding can breathe new life into your home’s overall appearance. An improved exterior siding can improve curb appeal, and increase your home’s value as well.
- Cost Effective: As touched on earlier, painting your siding instead of replacing it is a much more cost-effective option, potentially saving you thousands of dollars. However, it’s also important to note that any issues during your DIY job may lead to you having to hire professionals anyway.
- Increased Lifespan: While siding will already last a few decades if it’s looking bit drab, painting it can give you another 5-10 years before having to get it replaced entirely.
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Cons: Reasons to Replace Your Siding
While painting may seem like a good option for many homeowners, there are also multiple negatives to keep in mind. Inspecting and replacing your home’s siding is often the better course of action in most scenarios, as painting your siding may lead to:
- Warping and Increased Damage Risk: If your home’s siding is already slightly damaged, painting it can increase this issue instead of fixing it. If you’re considering painting your home darker to cover up any damages, this can especially lead to warping, as the sun will cause your home to retain heatand damage the material underneath.
- Impact May Not Be Long Lasting: Painting isn’t a permanent fix. With all the work of painting your siding – along with the fact that a DIY job may lead to more unfortunate results – the initial impact often isn’t worth it, quickly leading to additional costs.
- Unpredictable Results: While it is possible to paint your home’s siding, the job may not turn out as you want, meaning that you’ve wasted time, money, and effort. Instead, replacing your siding entirely will ensure that your home both looks good and is properly protected.
FREE No-Risk Siding Inspection and Estimate With Minnesota Exteriors
If your home’s siding is damaged or looking a bit worn, it may be time to replace it. This can give your home an entirely new look while also keeping it protected. Luckily, Minnesota Exteriors is here to help. We pride ourselves in providing top-tier siding replacement services for both residential and commercial buildings.
Before getting started, we also provide a free, no-risk siding inspection so that you know all the facts. With our over 75 years of experience, Minnesota Exteriors is here to help you make the best decision for your home. Get in touch with our team today.