Painting Vinyl or Aluminum Siding? Three Things You Should Know

• July 9th, 2010
• In: Aluminum Siding, Vinyl Siding
• By: Rob Sabo
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Over time, the paint on aluminum siding and the finish on vinyl siding fades and oxidizes, especially in arid climates. One frequently asked question about vinyl and aluminum siding is whether or not you can paint them. The answer is yes, but you must be careful about choosing the right kind of paint. Vinyl siding expands and contracts more than other types of siding, so you must pick the right paint to withstand the stresses of these movements.

Painting Vinyl or Aluminum Siding

There are three key things you should keep in mind when choosing a paint and a color.

1. When painting vinyl or aluminum siding, choose a color that won’t absorb a great deal of sunlight and heat up the siding. Both types of siding absorb much more heat than wood siding or fiber cement siding. Aluminum siding can better withstand higher temperatures, but vinyl siding can buckle or warp if it gets extremely hot, and a dark paint can add to heat absorption. That’s why most vinyl siding is sold in lighter shades. A good rule of thumb for a paint color is to choose a shade no darker than the siding’s current color.
2. Choosing the right kind of paint is perhaps the most important thing to make sure it lasts. Many longtime siding contractors recommend buying the best grade latex exterior paint you can find. Adding a bonding agent such as Emulsa-Bond helps the paint adhere to chalky, dusty surfaces.
3. Clean the siding well prior to painting. Use a pressure washer to blast away grime, oil, dirt, mildew, old paint, and anything else that can prevent new paint from adhering to the siding. Always spray downward to avoid forcing water underneath siding laps, where it can cause water rot.

Painting aluminum or vinyl siding is well within the skill level of most do-it-yourselfers, but you can hire a siding or painting contractor if you don’t want to dedicate several weekends to the task.