(click on the menu to jump to your next selection)
---------------EXTERIOR--------------- ALUMINUM SIDING ALUMINUM STORM WINDOWS APPLICATION TEMPERATURE BRUSH BRUSH OR SPRAY BUBBLES or FOAMING CEDAR SHAKES CEDAR SHINGLES CEMENT ASBESTOS SIDING CHIMNEY CINDERBLOCK CLAPBOARD COLOR COLOR CHANGE IN PAINT COLOR RETENTION CONCRETE BLOCK CONTRACTOR CRACKED AND CHIPPING DECKS EFFLORESCENCE ELASTOMERIC WALL COATINGS EPOXY EWC FADE RESISTANCE FIBERGLASS FILM THICKNESS FROZEN GLOVES HARDBOARD HIGH HUMIDITY HOW MANY GALLONS HVLP INORGANIC PIGMENT LATEX PAINTS OVER OIL-BASED MASONRY METAL DOORS MILDEW MINIMUM APPLICATION TEMPERATURE OCHRE OIL OR LATEX OIL OVER LATEX OPAQUE ORGANIC PAINT PAINT CONTENTS PAINT FROZE PAINT INGREDIENTS PAINT OVER STAIN? DIFFERECE BETWEEN PAINT & STAIN PAINT THINNER PAINTING OVER ELASTOMERICS PARAFFIN PEELING POLYURETHANE PORCH CEILING POWER WASHING PRESERVATIVE PRESSBOARD PRESSURE WASHING PRIMERS PRIMING PVC QUALITY PAINT: WHICH IS BEST? QUOTES RAILING RAW LINSEED OIL REDWOOD REJUVENATING PAINT REMOVING PAINT FROM CARS ROLLER ROLLER MARKS ROOFS SAGGING SANDING TO BARE SEMI-TRANSPARENT STAIN SEPARATED SERIOUS ALERGIC REACTIONS SHEEN SHUTTERS, VINYL SKINNING: AVOIDING SHINGLES: PAINTING ASPHALT SHINGLES SOLID COLOR STAIN SOLVENT SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION SPRAYING SPREAD RATE SQUARE FEET PER GALLON STAIN STAIN BLOCKING STEPS STORING PAINT STUCCO SYNTHETIC STUCCO TANNIN STAINING TEMPERATURE THAWED THE BEST METHOD TO APPLY THE PAINT TITANIUM TOP QUALITY BRUSH UMBER URETHANE VARNISH VICTORIAN VINYL VINYL SHUTTERS VINYL SIDING VINYL TRIM VINYL WINDOWS VOC WALKWAYS WAX BLEED WIND DRIVEN RAIN WINDOW GASKETS WOOD FENCING       

VINYL SIDING

Question
We recently purchased a 22 year old ranch house with light green (minty fresh!) vinyl siding. The siding is original to the house and is somewhat faded, although not much (we have a piece of the siding in the garage to compare it to). Can we paint this? We'd like to paint it a medium gray. What do we need to do to prepare the siding for painting? Is it ok to go somewhat darker than the original siding? How long will the paint job last (before needing repainted)? What is the best outside temperature to do this type of painting?

Answer
Here are some points and suggestions:

1. With vinyl siding, DO NOT paint any darker than the original color, or the siding can get too hot from sunshine, and warp permanently. You should probably choose a light gray.

2. Kill any mildew that is on the siding now. There are a number of factors that affect tendency to grow mildew on a paint job. Included is the removal of any mildew on the surface prior to priming/painting.

3. Then clean the surface by scrubbing with detergent, then rinse thoroughly; or use power washing with plain water, as mentioned above. Be sure to aim the spray level or slightly downward, and keep the tip 6" - 8" from the surface.

4. Apply one or two coats of a top quality 100% acrylic exterior house paint, in a flat, satin or semi gloss finish, depending on appearance wanted.

Normally, a primer is not necessary with cleaned vinyl siding. Use a quality 3" polyester-Nylon brush, or spray the paint. The light gray should last very well. If the surface is sound, clean and free of chalk when painted, and you apply two coats, you should be able to get at least 10 years, possibly longer.