Painting Siding for Vinyl and Aluminum
Posted on December 23, 2020
At CertaPro Painters of Silicon Valley, we are often asked about painting siding for vinyl and aluminum. Quite often, aluminum and vinyl siding are already painted when they are installed. This means they not only can, but should be maintained with good prep and fresh paint over time. These surfaces can be successfully painted, but there are some important issues to consider. A professional painter, like CertaPro, always keeps these issues in mind.
Prep work is important to create a lasting look to protect your home. This type of painting job should always start with a good power washing to remove any dirt or organic matter that may be growing on the siding including chalking.
Chalking is a common issue when painting aluminum or vinyl siding
Chalking is a layer of powder, the same color as the paint, sitting on the surface. Over time, the resin in the paint degrades and turns into this chalky film. This is a normal occurrence as paint ages. However, when poor quality paints are used or surfaces are exposed to high amounts of sun, this aging happens too quickly and the surface becomes highly chalky. In some case fixing a chalking surface requires a bonding primer. Your estimator will be able to discuss this with you if it is required for your unique situation.
Vinyl warping can be caused by paint
Drastic color changes can cause your siding to warp. This occurs when a dark color is painted on light siding. The dark color retains the sun’s heat and causes the siding to warp. Unfortunately, when this happens, the siding rarely returns to its original shape. Because of this, it is not recommended that aluminum or vinyl siding be painted with any color darker than the original siding color.
Final Thoughts
While aluminum and vinyl siding can be successfully painted, it’s not something that most home owners want to handle on their own. It’s best performed by a professional like CertaPro Painters® who not only understand the how to do the work right. And we leave you with beautiful durable finishes that stand the test of time.
