--- title: "How to Paint Vinyl Siding" description: "If your home’s siding has seen better days, you can save a lot by painting it instead of replacing it. This guide explains how to paint vinyl siding." date: "2014-11-04" modified: "2025-02-24" authors: - name: "Bob Vila" job_title: "Founder" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-vila/" - name: "Theresa Clement" job_title: "Contributing Writer & Editor" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/theresa-clement/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-paint-vinyl-siding/" categories: - "DIY" - "Exterior" - "Painting & Finishing" - "Siding" tags: - "How To" --- # How to Paint Vinyl Siding ![Man holding a paint tray in right hand and painting the gray exterior siding of a home with a paintbrush in his left hand.]() *Photo: Marie LaFauci / Getty Images* Vinyl remains a popular and budget-friendly choice for home exteriors. Many homeowners have chosen vinyl for its low maintenance requirements, and the material has only gotten easier to maintain and longer lasting, benefiting over the years from advancements in manufacturing. Even so, it’s not—and will never likely be—invincible. If your siding is looking faded or worn, or if you’ve just grown tired of the color, painting the vinyl siding on your home is a budget-friendly option to the [cost of new vinyl siding](). On homes in which siding covers most of the exterior, painting vinyl siding can be a large project. However, the good news is that it’s not a particularly complicated task. You may fear that in order to paint vinyl successfully, you will need to learn a new set of idiosyncratic, vinyl-only techniques but that’s not the case. If you’ve painted anything else before, most of the following steps will probably be familiar. Plus, we’ll detail the handful of vinyl-specific considerations that you’ll need to keep in mind to get the job done right. ### Tools & Materials Bobvila.com may earn a commission from purchases made through these links. - [Laundry detergent]() - [Powdered household cleaner]() - [Bleach]() - [1 gallon water]() - [Soft-bristled brush or cloth]() - [Garden hose]() - [Drop cloth]() - [Ladder]() - [Primer]() - [Paint]() - [Paint roller or paint sprayer]() - [Paintbrush]() - [Paint tray]() ### Step 1: Choose an appropriate paint. For some DIYers, the paint-selection step may be the most difficult. There are so many colors that it can be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, there are a few ways to narrow down the options and feel confident about the [exterior house paint color]() you choose. Basing color choice on the home’s style can help. Many paint makers offer historically accurate collections of colors for specific house styles. For example, Sherwin-Williams offers [exterior color palettes]() for Queen Anne, Craftsman, Georgian, Suburban Modern, and other styles of homes. Another way to [choose an exterior siding color]() is to consider the home’s other exterior features. Look for colors that go with the roof color, and any brick or stone that is part of the facade. In order to help envision a new color on your home, search for inspiration images of homes that have the same fixed feature colors. Climate and neighborhood restrictions may also help narrow the choices. While the roof has a larger impact on heat gain in a home, the [color of the vinyl siding]() can also make an impact. Cooler colors lead to less heat gain. Plus, many communities have regulations dictating and limiting paint colors, and some homeowners may need to gain approval from the homeowners association before painting a house. Finally, keep in mind that it’s easiest and most cost-effective for the homeowner if the new [exterior paint]() color they choose is the same color or a lighter hue than the current color. This is because darker colors retain more heat, can leave the siding vulnerable to premature warping, and may also create other maintenance problems. ![can you paint vinyl siding?]() *istockphoto.com* ### Step 2: Make sure the vinyl siding paint you choose contains the right ingredients. Although it can be tempting, don’t try to save time and money by purchasing the least expensive and most easy-to-reach can of paint. For a paint job to look good and last on vinyl siding, the product needs to have a few specific qualities. Paint for vinyl siding contains acrylic and urethane resins. These ingredients accommodate the expansion and contraction of vinyl and help the coating stick. Vinyl siding paint requires a latex urethane paint formulated for [exterior use](). ### Step 3: Check the weather forecast for painting day. Before heading outdoors to start painting your [vinyl siding](), first consult the weather forecast for your area. The ideal weather condition for exterior painting is a mild temperature, low relative humidity, and an overcast sky. If the weather is too hot, too sunny, or even too windy, the paint may fail to go on properly. While it might look fine in the short term, paint applied on a hot, humid, or gusty day may adhere poorly as it cures and be more prone to cracking and flaking over time. Also make sure the weather forecast predicts clear skies for at least one day after the paint job is complete. ### Step 4: Clean the vinyl siding. ![Woman uses soft-bristled brush with long handle to scrub home's vinyl siding.]() *Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com* A thorough cleaning is a critical step toward achieving a professional-quality paint job—not only on vinyl, but on any material that’s inside or outside. Simply rinsing the house’s siding with running water from a [garden hose]() won’t cut it. The goal is to remove all mold, mildew, chalky buildup, and debris from the surface. For best results, make a cleaning solution that contains the following ingredients. - 1/3 cup laundry detergent - 2/3 cup powdered household cleaner - 1 quart liquid laundry bleach - 1 gallon water Use a cloth or a soft-bristled brush to apply the cleaning solution before painting vinyl siding, then be sure to rinse off any remaining residue. Before going any further, allow enough time for the siding to dry completely. For specific tips about this process, check out our other article on [how to clean vinyl siding](). ### Step 5: Set up paint supplies and apply primer, if necessary. Before applying paint, set up a drop cloth to protect any plants or other surfaces from paint splatters. If needed, set up a ladder on a stable, flat surface and ask a helper to hold the ladder while you use it. After the work area is set up and the supplies are gathered, it’s time to start painting. However, before applying the chosen color, primer may be needed. [We recommend that you use primer]() first to make sure the finished paint job is consistent and has good adhesion. It may not be necessary if the original color hasn’t completely or partially worn away. If the vinyl is pitted or porous, it will also benefit from primer. ### Step 6: Apply two coats of vinyl paint. After the primer is dry, apply your chosen paint with a roller or a paint sprayer, saving brushwork for corners and edges. Evenly coat the entire surface, taking care not to apply too much paint in any one section. As for most other types of paint jobs, it’s better to do multiple light coats than one thick coat. Upon finishing the first coat, let the paint dry before continuing on to the second coat. The second coat, however, must be given enough time (24 hours at least) to dry completely before the project can be considered complete. Most of the time two coats are sufficient, but that doesn’t always do the trick. Once you have allowed the second coat of paint to dry completely, assess its appearance to determine whether an additional coat may be needed. ## Final Thoughts [Painting a home’s exterior]() (and painting vinyl siding) is a laborious job. The silver lining to completing such a large-scale is this: Assuming that you properly cleaned the siding prior to painting and had ideal weather conditions during paint application, you can reasonably expect the new coat of paint to last 10 years or more. Now that you know the answer to the question of can you paint vinyl siding, remember that it’s easier said than done. Depending on the size of a home and how much vinyl siding is covering the home, painting vinyl siding can take a day or it can take an entire weekend or more to properly clean, apply primer, and coat twice with the chosen paint color. Because jobs like this typically involve climbing on tall ladders, it’s also important to enlist a helper for safety reasons —and to make the job easier and faster. ## FAQs ## Author Bob Vila is America's Handyman. As a TV host, author, spokesperson, builder and historic preservationist, he has been heavily involved in construction and remodeling for the better part of a half century. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Pinterest]() [Facebook]() [Instagram]()