Can You Paint Vinyl Siding? Yes, If You Do It Right

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The question comes up more than you might think. Vinyl siding is a wildly popular exterior covering for a home for good reason: It’s inexpensive and durable, often coming with a lifetime warranty. So, vinyl siding lasts and lasts and lasts. Does this mean that you’re going to be stuck with the original siding color for the entire time you own your home? Vinyl siding comes in all sorts of colors—but what if you decide you want a different hue?

Relax. There’s no need to replace the exterior; painting the vinyl siding is a great alternative to installing new siding. You just need to know how to do it the right way. Here are the steps for painting vinyl.

Step 1: Pick the right paint

In the past, painting vinyl siding wasn’t possible because the paint wouldn’t fully adhere to the siding; even if some did, the vinyl would eventually crack and flake as the siding expanded and contracted because of weather changes. But no more.

  Today, there are plenty of acrylic latex paints (specifically, those containing urethane) deemed “vinyl safe,” so be sure to home in on this variety for your painting project and your vinyl siding should be in the clear.

Primer shouldn’t be necessary before painting vinyl siding, unless the surface is pitted or the original color has faded so much that the siding panels have become porous. In that case, be sure to find primer specifically made for vinyl siding and brush that on before painting.

And as with regular house paint, vinyl-safe paints come in different finishes. According to Scott Brown, a professional exterior painter, “the satin finish works better” for painting vinyl siding rather than matte or high gloss, because it mimics the vinyl’s original sheen.

When choosing paint colors for vinyl siding, it’s typically best to steer clear of those that are significantly darker than the siding’s original hue. Painting a darker color onto light-toned vinyl siding can cause the vinyl to absorb more heat than it was designed to handle and may result in warping. You may be reluctant to limit your color options, but you’ll be glad you did.

Step 2: Pick the right day to paint vinyl siding

When it comes time to do your painting, wait for a day with moderate temperatures, low humidity, and little or no chance of rain—even if you’re using vinyl-safe paint, humidity and extreme temperature can affect how well it adheres to your vinyl siding.

Try to avoid unusually hot days for painting; when the siding shrinks in cooler temperatures, it may expose the unpainted seams between your panels, warns Donald McKenna, founder of McKenna Exteriors. If this happens, you can touch up those gaps in the vinyl panels—or you can sidestep this chore by choosing a paint that’s very similar to the shade of the original vinyl.

Step 3: Prep your siding before you paint

Wash your vinyl siding before painting to ensure the paint adheres properly. This doesn’t require an extraordinary effort. You can scrub the siding’s surface as you would for normal maintenance, with a cleaning solution of water and a little liquid soap, as well as a soft-bristled brush for any areas caked with dirt or mildew.

You can also use a pressure washer before painting siding if you are careful not to force water behind the siding panels, which could cause water damage or even mold. 

Once the siding is clean and dry, make minor repairs if necessary: Lightly sand peeling edges, replace missing or bent nails, and replace any vinyl siding panels that have warped or buckled over time. 

Step 4: Use the right tools

Due to the ridges in vinyl siding, this is one paint job where a roller is not your friend, because it won’t be able to get paint into the gaps and overlaps between your siding panels. Instead, use a regular paintbrush and apply paint from side to side, top to bottom (this will help cover up drips). A paint sprayer is another option for achieving an even coat, though inexperienced painters might have to worry about drips and an even coat.

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