Can I Paint Vinyl Siding? Well, Why Not…

Aluminum siding was the material of choice for homeowners back in the day. However, for the past few decades, it has been replaced with vinyl siding. Despite having been in use since the 1950s, vinyl siding can cause some dilemma for homeowners today, especially when they are planning to paint the exterior of their home. The question often asked is ‘can I paint vinyl siding?’. Well, the answer to this is quite simple: yes. You can and you absolutely should paint vinyl siding. However, there are a few things you have to keep in mind before you go ahead with it:

Preparation

You have to prepare the surface properly before you can paint it. Just because it is vinyl siding doesn’t mean you have to do anything different. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that vinyl siding is easier to prep as compared to aluminum or any other types of siding you get for your home. The first step is to clean the siding. You can simply do that using a pre-paint solution. This way, any dirt or grime on the surface will come off. Alternately, you can apply a pressure washer to the siding to clean it up or go for some good old-fashioned hand scrubbing.

This might require some more effort if you have mold on the siding or any other similar problem. In that case, you should mix the pre-paint solution in warm water and add some chlorine bleach. Clean the surface using the solution you have prepared, spraying it on so that you have better control. Make sure you cover your eyes and nose when cleaning the vinyl siding, to be on the safe side.

Colors

The next step is selecting the right color for the vinyl siding. The worst thing you can do is select a color that is darker than the actual color of the siding. In that case, all you will end up doing is causing the siding to absorb more heat, and that is something you don’t want. In that case, the heat will be trapped between the siding and the paint you have applied on it, leading to warping, for which there is no solution. Select a lighter color and also make sure the type of paint you choose is safe to use on vinyl.

Testing

Last, but not the least, you have to make sure the paint ‘sticks’ to the siding. The best way to go about this is applying a patch of paint to a part of the siding. Once this is done, you can check the adhesion. Paint a patch and then let it dry. Next, use a knife to make zigzag patterns on the paint. Then, apply packing tape on it and peel it off. If some paint comes off, only a minute amount, you are good to go. However, if a thin film comes off, the paint is not sticking properly.

These are some tips you can follow to paint vinyl siding to ensure a quality finish.