One of the most common developments created by the recent housing bust is that more and more homeowners are choosing to remain in the homes they have and upgrade them in one fashion or another. From people I know in the industry, two of the most frequently asked questions they seem to field are: "How can I change the color of my vinyl siding?" And, "What are the dos and don'ts of painting vinyl siding?" The answer to those questions is simple. Yes, you can change the color of your vinyl siding. And yes, there is a strict set of guidelines on how to correctly paint vinyl siding.

Hopefully, I will be able to dispel the myths and offer a quick tutorial concerning the ins and outs of painting vinyl siding.

OK? Here we go...

Technically, yes...but the process involves more than the standard painting process.

Homeowners choose to install vinyl siding for many reasons: appearance, low maintenance, and energy efficiency. What many homeowners sometimes ignore, however, is the color of their vinyl siding. Since the majority of vinyl siding is color-through, meaning that the color is the same throughout the siding, if for some reason you are no longer enamored with your original choice of color, changing it can be a major headache. This is where the process of how to paint vinyl siding comes in. All you have to do is follow a few guideines, or in this case: a tutorial on painting vinyl siding.

Preparing the surface of your vinyl siding prior to applying any type of paint is the number one task you MUST do, and do well! Because if you don't, all your hard work will go for moot!

So, how do you prepare vinyl siding for painting? For starters, don't consider a power washer. Why? Because power washers, although they do a great job of cleaning most surfaces, are not suited for vinyl siding paint preparation; primarily because they leave too much residual water in the seams of your siding which will come back to haunt you when it comes time for the paint to 100% cure. So, DON'T use a power washer. Instead, unpack your trusty scrub brush collection, a quality vinyl cleaning solution (that you can purchase at any home improvement store), plenty of dry towels, an adequate ladder, and apply ample, ample, ample amounts of elbow grease. This step is NOT easy; it's NOT fun; but it is critical to your success! 

A quick note: Oxygenated bleach works great as a vinyl cleaning solution as it tends to remove not only dirt. grime, mold, and mildew, but any wax buildup that may be on your siding.

Rule number two in painting vinyl siding is color choice. Since vinyl siding in general is designed to reflect heat, choosing a color either similar in tone or lighter than your original color cannot be overstated.

Choosing a color darker than your current siding color spells disaster because the new paint will absorb and trap heat between the surfaces leading to warping and/or buckling of your vinyl siding; which will then need replacement. And that is never good.

So, always choose a lighter color than what you have!

Vinyl siding is in essence an elastic, plastic product; which means that you must choose a similar type of paint in order to achieve proper adherance.

What type of paint is best for painting vinyl siding you ask? If I were choosing, I'd use an exterior-grade paint designed with elasticity in mind: in short, choose a paint with a quality blend of urethane and acrylic resins. Together, these ingredients will produce optimum adhesion when painting vinyl.

Once you've finished all your preliminary steps, it's painting time!

Depending on how much additional work you want to do, applying a primer coat (using the same formula as your finish coat, of course) is not a bad idea. It requires another entire step, but the pay-offs include: better adhesion of your final coat and increased durability of the overall paint job. Just food for thought, so to speak.

The time of day, and the tools used are also crucial "elements" to consider.

Contrary to what you might think, the best times to paint vinyl siding are during the cooler portions of the day. This is because you want the paint to dry at a slow, even pace and if you paint in direct sunlight or heat, your paint will cure unevenly. Besides, painting in the shade is much more comfortable.

As for the best tools to use for painting vinyl, a commercial-grade, airless spray gun is by far the way to go. Airless sprayers are easy to use and maintain the best finishing ability. In short, stay away from the roller and brush show. Those are best left for other surfaces.

Even though painting vinyl siding can be intimidating and a lot of work, if properly done, the results are most often worth the effort.