Refresh and renew your vinyl siding with a fresh coat of paint
A vibrant new coat of paint on your vinyl siding can work wonders, bringing your home back to life and seriously boosting its curb appeal—at a fraction of the cost of a full replacement. Before you dive into this project, it's crucial to make sure your siding is in tip-top shape, and you won't accidentally void any warranties. Read on to learn the essential steps, color choices, and key considerations to ensure a successful transformation of your home's vinyl siding.
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding. Paint is an excellent way to completely revamp your home’s exterior on a budget—hello, curb appeal! There’s just a right and wrong way to do it. As long as you make certain considerations that accommodate vinyl’s movement and heat-absorbing properties, you’re good as gold (or white, or whatever color you want to paint your home). This step-by-step guide will teach you how to paint vinyl siding the right way.
Like all exterior paint jobs, painting vinyl siding can be a huge improvement to your home’s appearance. Paint makes your vinyl look newer and also covers up minor damages. Therefore, painting vinyl siding is also a more affordable repair option as long as your siding does not require full replacement. Paint also protects your siding from UV damage, pests, and other harmful elements. Finally, a high-quality paint job may also increase your home’s value.
Painting vinyl siding could potentially void your manufacturer’s warranty coverage. It is also a temporary fix and does not address any root cause damaging your vinyl siding. For example, painting over aged, warped, molded, or rotten siding is most likely a waste of your time and supplies because you will end up having to fully repair or replace the siding regardless. Painting vinyl siding also comes with additional maintenance requirements since you need to repaint the siding every five years.
Before pulling out your paintbrush, review these important factors to make sure that painting your vinyl siding is the best option available.
Your siding’s manufacturer may void your warranty if you paint your vinyl siding, even if it’s new—be sure to read the terms of your warranty and see if the paint will impact your warranty. Note also that if your home suffers from damages and you need to file a claim with your insurance, they might not honor the claim if your vinyl is painted. Again, it’s all in the fine print, so read your policy very carefully.
Are you painting your siding without checking for signs of age or damage? When siding is replaced, contractors inspect for damage—from pests, moisture, or foundation settling—and don’t install new siding until this damage is repaired. Neglecting to perform due diligence and ensuring your siding is in optimal condition before applying paint may lead to more significant repairs in the future.
If you don’t have insulation under your siding, you could be missing an opportunity to save on your energy bills. Insulation installed under siding can help keep your home warm during cold months and cool during heat waves. Instead of merely painting over outdated, uninsulated siding, contemplate upgrading to vinyl siding equipped with proper insulation. This investment can lead to long-term cost savings, making your home more energy-efficient.
If you want to paint vinyl siding, you need to choose a specific type of paint that won’t crack when the material expands and contracts at different temperatures. Only use a latex urethane paint meant for exterior use (you’ll often find these labeled “vinyl safe”). You may or may not need to use a primer. It’s usually recommended, but check the manufacturer’s instructions.
In addition, color really matters—and not just because your homeowner’s association is picky.
Vinyl siding can only withstand so much heat before it starts to warp, buckle, or melt. A very dark color can absorb too much heat, and areas that get full sunlight are particularly vulnerable. It’s best to choose a paint color that’s the same as or lighter than the color of your vinyl siding.
Keep in mind that one gallon of paint covers an area of 300 to 400 square feet of exterior surface. Depending on how many square feet you’re looking to cover, the cost of painting vinyl siding can get somewhat expensive.
Pick a paint color that works with your siding’s brand and current color—changing it up for something too dark can cause the lighter siding underneath to warp. Generally speaking, a lighter color than your current siding is the best option.
Painting your home often requires getting on a ladder, which can be dangerous. Have a friend hold you steady or entrust the job to a painting professional to ensure your safety.
If you’re going to put in the work to paint your siding, you want to make sure it lasts. That means doing your due diligence on research and proper preparation. Here are a few things to consider before you get started.
Ladder
Garden hose with spray nozzle
Bucket
Drop cloth
Soft-bristled brush or cleaning cloth
Paint roller or sprayer
Paint tray
Paintbrush
Paint
Primer
Painter’s tape
Household cleaner
Weather can ruin a new paint job. If it’s too hot or windy, the paint won’t properly adhere. If it’s rainy, the paint could wash right off the surface of your vinyl siding. Shoot for an overcast day with mild weather and low humidity. Because this project can take a day or more, check the weather for the whole week. Ideally, you should allow paint to dry for at least 24 hours before it rains.
There are different ways to clean vinyl siding, but one of the most effective is to use a trusted store-bought household cleaner mixed with a gallon of water. You can apply it to your siding using a soft-bristled scrub brush. You want to remove all the built-up mold, mildew, and debris so it doesn’t get stuck under the paint, where it can cause problems.
If you need to use a ladder to reach certain spots, make sure you have a helper holding the base. Hose the cleaner off the siding, and make sure it’s totally rinsed away and your siding is completely dry before you paint.
You’ll have to prep the home exterior for paint. This includes putting down a drop cloth so you don’t accidentally paint your yard and setting up a ladder on a secure flat surface. You should also carefully apply painter’s tape around your windows, door frames, and any other area you don’t want an accidental paint splatter.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions that come with your paint. Some paints don’t require primer, but it’s typically recommended. It can help paint adhere (creating a longer-lasting coat) and give a smoother look to pitted or porous siding. That being said, if you’re just refreshing the original color of your siding, primer isn’t always necessary.
If you do want to prime, apply primer to the surface of your vinyl siding using a paint sprayer or roller. A paintbrush can help you get in and cover small areas.
You’ll also want to back-brush the paint to remove drips and make sure it has an easy coat (back-brushing is just the process of using a brush to go over where you’ve already rolled or sprayed).
Now for the fun part. Once the primer has fully dried, apply your first coat of exterior paint using the same technique you used to apply primer. Let the coat dry completely. Most exterior paints take four to eight hours to dry, but it could take longer in certain weather or with certain products. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the paint is dry, apply your second coat, and let it dry.
Once you’ve done your second coat, take an assessment. Are there any areas that need touching up? Do you actually need a third coat because you’ve painted a drastically different color? Enlisting the help of another person is a good way to catch any spots you may have missed. If needed, touch up your paint job. A small brush can help you get hard-to-reach areas.
Congrats on a job well done! All that’s left to do is tidy up your work area. If you’ve used painter’s tape, remove it before the final coat has dried so it doesn’t lift off the paint. Clean all your brushes and rollers and squeeze out any extra water before hanging to dry. Remove any protective coverings from the area, seal up those leftover paint cans, and head inside for a well-deserved rest.
Can you paint vinyl siding on your own? Yes, but do you really want to? This is often a major task that requires the use of a ladder. It can take anywhere between one and three days to complete the job, depending on the size of your home—and while it’s not difficult, it is labor intensive. Most people prefer to hire a local exterior painter.
If you do hire a professional, the cost of painting a home is typically between $2,200 to $7,500. You can save thousands by doing the job yourself, but you should at least hire a local siding contractor to repair any damaged siding before you start. Your DIY paint job will be wasted if you need to make significant repairs after the fact.
For the average 2,500-square-foot house, you’ll need 8 to 10 gallons per coat. One gallon of paint covers about 300 to 400 square feet of siding. You’ll also need enough primer for a single coat.
Vinyl will resist regular paint. However, here are a few tips you can do to make the paint stick better and last at least a couple of years:
A vinyl-safe paint sticks better and gives the surface a smoother finish at the end.
Cleaning thoroughly, fixing any damage, and prepping the surface will result in an exceptional painting job.
Only do the painting work in proper weather conditions.
You’ll typically need to repaint your siding every 10 years, but it depends on the local climate. Homes that get a lot of intense storms or sunshine are prone to damage and UV fading, which shorten the siding’s life span.
Vinyl expands based on weather, which can cause peeling if you use the wrong kind of paint that won’t expand along with the vinyl. Look for premium paint that has been formulated for vinyl siding—it usually contains a blend of acrylic and urethane. Valspar is a popular brand that offers paint for vinyl siding.
