Is your house also screaming an exterior makeover? But you have vinyl siding on the exterior, and you are confused about what to do. There is a question people have: ‘Can you paint vinyl siding or not? Nowadays, modern houses prefer vinyl siding instead of getting wooden exterior walls to enhance aesthetics and also for waterproof purposes. There are numerous things one needs to consider before painting vinyl cladding.
But first, let’s get a clear understanding of what vinyl siding is and why people prefer them for their house exterior walls.
What is Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl siding is plastic siding or protection used on the exterior of houses and small apartments for waterproofing and decoration, similar to wooden cupboards and made-up materials such as aluminum or fiber cement siding. Most of the vinyl siding is made up of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
It is durable plastic exterior wrapping for a house, used for enhancing aesthetics and waterproofing. They are low maintenance and very easy to clean, but the color usually fades with time and needs replacement or touch-up to make it look fresh.
So, now the question is Can you paint Vinyl Siding? Vinyl siding is a product that doesn’t need painting but has been taken as it can’t be painted. By painting the vinyl siding, one can customize the look of the house exterior to reflect their style and design.
Let’s see how the vinyl can be painted and what are the things one needs to take before deciding to do an exterior makeover.
Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl sidings are a popular and reliable home exterior decor option and come in a variety of color options, but they start to fade after some time due to sunlight, water, and all-natural causes. So, has your vinyl siding started to fade? If yes, it is time to paint it and change the color of it completely to get a new look.
But can you paint vinyl siding? The answer to it is ‘yes’ but following some rules and taking advice from the professional to get a finished new look of the vinyl siding.
Let’s get through the rules before picking up our paint brushes or hoping the roller with some dark color tone.
Things to Consider Before Deciding on Repainting Vinyl Siding
1. Prep Work Before Starting to Paint
Before concluding on ‘ Can you paint vinyl siding’ or start painting the vinyl siding all over again, it is essential to prepare the surface for that, and it is done with a pressure washer. Now, the number of rounds of cleaning with a pressure washer depends on the regular maintenance one used to do for the vinyl siding.
If it is well maintained, one wash is enough, but if there is moss, mold, or dirt, one can do a second round of cleaning with a pressure washer. Then it needs to be rinsed properly for painting.
The siding is then left to dry completely for a day or two and then painted with paints manufactured especially for vinyl siding.
2. Update Old Siding
Even before you start questioning, ‘ Can you paint vinyl siding,’ it is important to update the old siding. So, before deciding on painting your vinyl siding, make sure it is in good condition; otherwise, there is no point in renovating it. Observe the siding for any cracks, breakages, or loose ends. If there are, replace those portions before starting the paint job.
Identify the damages and cracks and repair or replace them, as the paint will not repair the underlying damage.
Damaged siding should be avoided or repainted to further cause damage down the line or increase the expenses by urging the need to replace the siding completely.
3. Use the Right and Quality Paint
It is a tough task to decide on which color to paint the vinyl siding as they can’t be painted in dark colors like grey, blue, or black. So, give a good thought about the color as the freshly dark painted siding will heat up in the sun and will cause the warping of the vinyl siding.
Usually, the brands selling vinyl siding paint colors don’t keep dark color options. If you are confused about what color will be appropriate for your vinyl siding, it is best to talk to a professional. Make sure to choose vinyl-safe paint, which has latex urethane as an ingredient and does the job right.
4. Use a Paint Sprayer to Paint
A paintbrush and a roller can’t get the work done of painting vinyl siding. You will need professional paint tools like a paint sprayer to paint the siding. The sprayer does the job faster and gives a smooth finish. Also, if you are someone who has not used the paint sprayer earlier, get a professional to do the work for you for better coverage and a finished look.
Using the paint spray, an expert painter makes only the new color to be visible, hiding the old color patches.
5. Ideal Paint Day
It is usually advised not to paint on a rainy day, but you’ll need to avoid the sun also. According to the paint experts, it is advised to choose a cool day to adhere the paint properly to the vinyl.
It needs some extra care as it is not wood or any other surface. If one has to paint on a sunny day, then choose to paint on the shaded area, as sun and vinyl paint don’t go well with each other.
6. Seek Advice from a Professional
From giving a thorough wash to the siding with a pressure washer to selecting vinyl-safe paint to finish the paint job of the vinyl siding properly, one needs to take advice from a vinyl painting expert.
The professional can help with the right advice to make the vinyl siding last for longer and in good condition.
7. Wears Away the Warranty
The vinyl siding usually comes up with a warranty of around 50 years; painting it before the warranty ends will lead to exiting the warranty. So, it is better to check the terms and conditions before starting the paintwork of the siding.
This small list with the complete procedure of vinyl siding repaint must have cleared all your doubts and helped you save a lot of money. It is advised to talk to a professional before starting the painting process to know whether the siding is in the condition of getting repainted or not.
Taking care of small details will save time, effort, and money.
Is Painting the Vinyl Siding a Good Option?
Why does one choose to paint the vinyl siding instead of replacing it? Obviously, to save some money, but is painting the vinyl siding a good option and cost-effective? When a homeowner decides to repaint its existing siding, they first need to give it a proper wash with a pressure washer.
Then there is the cost of specialty paint to get rid of moss which is particularly for vinyl siding. One can also need to hire a professional adding up to the total cost.
Considering all the above things needed to repaint the siding, it is still 30% cheaper than buying a new vinyl siding, so it is cost-effective, but the new one will have a longer shelf-life as compared to the repainted vinyl siding.
If all the steps of painting the vinyl siding are followed properly, then the siding can last for around 10 years in good condition. By choosing the vinyl-safe paint, proper cleaning with a pressure washer, and the right paint with professional equipment, the vinyl siding can last for many years and can fade away due to extreme weather conditions.
Pros and Cons of Painting Vinyl Siding
There are some pros and cons one should consider before starting to paint or hiring a professional painter. Weighing the pros and cons will help you make a better decision.
Pros
- Saves money
- Enhance the appearance of the house
- Make the exterior durable
- Increase the value of the property
Cons
- Results for a limited period
- Cancels the warranty on the vinyl
- Worsen the condition
- The wrong color can be dangerous
Summing It Up About Vinyl Siding Repaint
So, finally, we can say the answer to the question ‘ Can you paint Vinyl Siding?’ is ‘Yes.’ Vinyl sidings are the PVC protection used on the exterior of the house instead of wood or aluminum, as they are waterproof and enhance the look of the house. Due to weather elements, the color of the siding fades and needs a makeover. Painting vinyl siding uplifts the exterior look of the house and adds to the value of the property.
The new acrylic vinyl safe paint colors available for the exterior of the house are eye-pleasing, cost-effective and durable. One needs to be cautious about what color one chooses and some things to take care of before starting to paint the siding to make it last longer.
So, if your house needs an exterior makeover or the vinyl siding’s old color is bleeding through, with all the information discussed above, you are ready to make the decision.
Don’t wait; a beautiful house makes everyone happy.
