The Vinyl Siding Painting Process

With all the benefits that vinyl siding provides, it still has a nasty habit of showing wear-and-tear with pretty high visibility. The good news is, vinyl siding is also pretty easy to maintain, especially with a team of experts like CertaPro behind you.

First of all, can you paint your vinyl siding?

The short answer is yes, you can paint vinyl siding rather than replace it. But you will need to know some key details to make your home exterior painting project turn out exactly how you planned.

Don’t worry, this won’t be on a quiz – our CertaPro Painters are already equipped with the knowledge necessary to maintain vinyl siding. However, knowledge is power, so in this article we’ll provide you with some details and information about painting your vinyl siding.

However, learning is only the first step to completing the project. The second step is calling your local Certapro Painters and letting them help you start the project.

What do you need to know prior to starting your project?

Vinyl siding has many benefits. Its longevity is likely the biggest factor – vinyl siding can last up to 50 years if properly maintained. In addition, it is also highly durable and, as we mentioned, relatively easy to clean.

It also has aesthetic benefits. Vinyl siding can give your home the curb appeal needed to increase its resale value.  Also, as mentioned above, vinyl doesn’t have to be replaced to be updated. To refresh your home’s look and give it a new pop of color, vinyl siding can easily be painted.

But, there are some things to know before you start.

Clean your vinyl siding thoroughly before painting

Vinyl siding is extremely durable. It can withstand many elements for many years. However, it is vulnerable to filth, pollen, and other dirty culprits that come with the simple passage of time. Sometimes, vinyl siding just needs a good thorough cleaning with a power washer to restore its shine. You will be amazed by the amount of dirt and debris that can accumulate over the years.

This is why it is a good idea to always begin with cleaning your siding prior to painting. This allows homeowners to truly access the true condition of the siding. Sometimes, homeowners get a wonderful surprise after this cleaning. They discover their siding was just dirty and does not need replacing at all.

However, if after cleaning, you realize your siding does have damage, these need fixing first prior to painting. Paint can make damage stick out more and the damage will only get worse and cost more to fix.

Make sure you are using the proper primer and paint to do the job

Using primer prior to painting is almost always a good idea. Primer provides the key to a seamless paint job. It prepares the surface, ensures adhesion, and helps paint last longer. Our Certapro professionals use an adhesive primer first, then they paint your siding with 100% acrylic paint. Acrylic paint is very lightweight and clings to the siding nicely. If you were to use thicker paint, it would flake off quickly.

When considering colors to paint, keep in mind that darker colors will absorb heat and this may cause the paint to eventually bubble up, warp, and start to peel. It’s best to stay away from very dark-colored vinyl siding or painting siding a dark color.

What You Need to Do to Paint Vinyl Siding

Painting vinyl siding starts with choosing the color and the paint. You can select most colors, and a significant number of them will go great on the siding of a house. You only need to avoid darker colors as these can cause the siding to absorb more heat. Extreme heat leads to bubbling, warping, and peeling of the vinyl siding, which is why you should try to avoid it.

Brush or Spray?

When painting vinyl siding, the spray painting method is the most efficient process. This method saves hours of time, and it also creates a look that’s very similar to the original one the siding had when it was installed.

Before you begin to paint, you need to cover the downspouts, windows, and doors with plastic to protect them from paint spatter. If you have some bushes or flowers close to the siding, use some cloth to cover them as well. Your objective is to make sure the paint doesn’t reach anything but the siding.

After covering everything, use an airless sprayer to paint the siding. Start from the top and spray from left to right, working down towards the bottom of the house.
Extra painting tips for good results:

• Make sure to start at the top and do not stop until you reach the bottom

• You should paint at least 2 coats of paint to your vinyl

• Only paint on calm days without any wind, rain, or inclement weather

• Try not to paint in the full sun. An overcast day without rain is perfect painting weather

These are just a few suggestions to help with painting your vinyl siding. CertaPro Painters® of Metrowest can answer all your questions. Start your vinyl siding painting project today by scheduling a free estimate online!