How to Paint Over Vinyl Siding

You will learn to paint vinyl siding and change the color of your vinyl sided home without spending a small fortune.

Things You'll Need

• 8' step ladder or extenstion ladder (depending on the heighth of the structure), exterior latex paint (satin sheen or shinier), vinyl siding wash, clean-up rags, 4"and 1 1/2" paint brushes, painters t

Instructions

1. Plan to wash your vinyl sided structure at least 4 days prior to the planned painting day(s). Vinyl siding wash can be purchased in concentrate and attached to a garden hose or in gallon/5 gallon sizes as a concentrate on a pressure washer; follow manufacturers recommendations for application and rinse.

2. Once your structure has dried for at least 4 days, it is always a good idea to start with one side of the structure, do a quick check over and make sure there is no remaining dirt or water on the siding, if so spot clean or dry as needed. Using painters tape, tape of any exterior lighting or ornaments that will not be receiving paint. Your surface is now ready to refinish.

3. Shake and stir your paint thoroughly before applying. If you have purchased paint by the gallon and plan to use more than one gallon, I highly recommend shaking and stirring all of your paint and pouring it into one large pail (a clean 5 gallon bucket), mixing again, and then pouring off smaller batches for easy handling, this will ensure consistent color throughout your project.

4. Starting at either a top or bottom corner of the wall, begin applying your paint with the grain of the siding. Apply medium wet coats horizontally to the end of the siding row, this will ensure no dry paint edges once the finish cures in a few days. I would recommend starting at the top of the wall, this way if there are and drips, they can be wiped off quickly and painted over later once you reach that area. Once the siding is painted, with the 1 1/2" brush, go around and touch up any areas that the 4" brush could not reach. While allowing your work to dry, you can move to another wall and repeat starting at step 3.

5. With all exterior walls covered, check your work starting with the first wall that was finished. Check for thin areas of paint or poor coverage, if this is the case, a second coat may be required, this is not uncommon, especially in a significant color change. Remember to start at a corner, working with the grain to the end of the siding row, then advance to the next row. Once complete with the project, clean brushes with brush cleaner or warm to hot soapy water and rinsing thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Drastic color changes may require a coat of primer before painting to ensure proper "hiding" of the color being painted over. This is a time consuming extra step, but will ensure even color and lasting pigment of your new finish. Slight color changes typically will not require primer application prior to top coating. For example, changing from light blue to tan, likely would require primer; however, changing from tan to a light yellow or buttercream hue likely would not require primer. If you need assistance with making this decision, see your local household paint jobber for assistance. Although this process is much cheaper than residing your home, it still is not a cheap venture, and not one than you will want to dive into every 3-5 years, so use good products. It will be worth it in the long run to buy a higher quality paint to get lasting affects and color retention. Also the higher the sheen, the more washable a surface is, but there are down falls to higher sheen also: high gloss is very washable but shows more imperfection, however satin finishes are less washable, but show fewer imperfections; you can decide which fits your application best.

• Do not paint in hot direct sunlight, this will cause premature drying of the paint and possible peeling later on. If you plan to paint on a hot day, start with the side of the structure that is shaded for the longest part of the day; by the time you get around the structure, this wall likely will be shaded; if it is not, save it for the next day. Since each manufacturer, always carefully read and follow manufacturers cautions, warnings, and application recommendations when painting or washing a structure. If you are sensitive to paint fumes, where a paint respirator.