Painting Vinyl Siding in Mission Viejo
Posted on October 31, 2020
Painting vinyl siding sounds like a strange idea. Most people assume that when you install vinyl siding or buy a house that has it, you will never need to maintain or replace it except for an occasional power washing. As it turns out that’s not exactly true, Vinyl siding has a lifespan, and it’s not “forever”. Most Vinyl siding is good for 25 years but before it reaches the end of its warranty or even its lifespan, it can begin to look aged and faded.
Before painting:
Even if it doesn’t look bad it may no longer be the color you want. Not everyone wants to commit to a single house color for the next two decades, right? Assuming your siding either looks faded and dull, or it’s no longer your color choice, you basically have two options. Your first option is to have it removed and replaced with new siding. This option is the more expensive of the two by at least twice as much, it also signs you or the next owner up for a 25 year run with the same house color.
Option number two is to paint your vinyl siding, if you live in the Mission Viejo area most houses are clad in stucco but for those with vinyl siding, you already know what the sun can do to it over time. In a very sunny climate the siding color tends to fade, it can develop a chalky finish and it can also collect dust and dirt which further spoils the look. While it sounds like heresy to paint vinyl siding (because avoiding painting was the whole point in having it) it costs much less and it can buy you ten years of either restored curb appeal or a fresh new color and new look.
After painting:
When you compare costs and decide that painting the siding is the best choice for your house the process itself is simple and in some ways, it’s easier than painting over traditional wood siding. As an example, painting over vinyl generally eliminates the need to sand or replace wood in certain spots that you might have to deal with on a traditionally sided house. It usually starts with a good power washing using a cleaning mixture specifically for vinyl siding. The purpose is to knock off any dirt and mildew and expose the surface of the bare vinyl.
Starting with a primer coat before painting depends on the condition of the siding and the paint you plan to use over the siding. This is something that a painting professional like the CertaPro Painters® of Orange County would determine. It may also be required if the color change you want to make is dramatic. Paint manufacturers make paint especially for painting over vinyl and it’s generally a good idea to avoid dark colors that might absorb too much heat as it affects the vinyl itself. Vinyl tends to expand and contract with temperature changes which is part of the reason why it’s installed overlapping itself. The paint usually contains a blend of urethane and acrylic resins, these provide both flexibility and adhesion so that the paint can expand and contract with the vinyl.
Once the job is finished you will have a paint job that should last roughly 10 years, in the color you really want, and without a faded or dull look. After that, it can be painted again or resided by you or the next owner.
If you are planning to paint your vinyl siding home in the Mission Viejo area contact CertaPro Painters® of Orange County, CA and let us give you a free estimate on your next painting project.
