I was thinking of painting my now discolored vinyl siding that has weathered for the last 20 years – as opposed to replacement. There has been no leaks and other than discoloration, the material has no cracks and is still very pliable. One of my friends told me about Moorlife Acrylic Flat Paint N105 as an option which can be tinted color-match.
Paul ~ St. Paul, Minnesota
Paul, for a long time the common wisdom was that you could not paint vinyl siding, because the paint just could not adhere well enough to a vinyl surface and would eventually peel or flake off. Well, paint manufacturers have tackled this problem, and now most of the major brands have at least one type of high quality exterior latex paint which may be suitable for painting vinyl siding. Benjamin Moore recommends its MoorLife Acrylic Flat Latex paint for vinyl siding and claims that a single coat can accomplish the job.
I would recommend that you have your vinyl siding professionally cleaned and power-washed before attempting to paint your home. Remember, these high quality paints perform best when applied during ideal painting conditions when the surface is clean and in good condition. While Benjamin Moore does offer a broad selection of paint colors, you may want to choose a light colored paint, as a dark color may absorb to much heat which could damage your vinyl siding. Good luck with your project!
As long as the vinyl is clean and dry almost any acrylic exterior house paint will work. You do not want to paint the vinyl a darker color than the original color. The darker color can absorb the heat and melt or distort the original shape of the siding. Sherwin Williams makes a product that is “vinyl safe” and claims it can be painted with any color including darker.
Paul, yes you can paint your siding. I am not familiar with the paints available since I am a siding contractor. Do your research carefully. I have replaced old painted siding. What ever you choose, you must ensure the siding is clean and properly treated prior to painting. If you clean it yourself, you should purchase TSP ( A non-sudsing powder Trisodium Phosphate) from one of the big box stores for your cleaner. And most important, start from the bottom, or else you will have streaking and they will show through the paint. Also take in mind, vinyl that age is very brittle, so don’t use a lot of pressure on your power washer. To be on the safe side, find a blind spot on the rear of the house and try to paint it. I am sure that your paint dealer would give you a deal on a small can to sample the product. Good luck!
wash prime and paint spray three lite coats