     |
ADVICE FOR PAINTING ALUMINUM, VINYL OR WOOD SIDINGIf your interested in painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding and are wondering if certain siding's like aluminum and vinyl can be coated then you should be happy to learn that virtually every type of home siding can be painted. The key to coating your siding, no mater what the material is surface preparation and applying the proper products prior to putting your paint colors on. Below you will find information regarding painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding, that will hopefully help you with coating the outside of your home in the fastest and most economical way possible. One of the best investments to make is in your home. Click the above link if you're looking at remodeling, buying a home or are refinancing your mortgage, check out the loans page of this site. Whether you have good or bad credit. I give details for the top quality American, United Kingdom, Canadian and Australian online lending institutions. SURFACE PREPARATION Before painting aluminum, vinyl, or wood siding it needs to be clear of dirt, waxy coatings and any other debris that may be found on its finish. Also if your siding is shinny, you will need to sand off the shine, or to make the job almost risk free apply a top quality exterior primer specifically designed for the type of suffice your going to paint. By priming the siding before coating it, you should eliminate most problems that can arise when painting exterior surfaces. CAULKING AND FILLING What separates the professional looking paint job from that of the average home owner, is all the work the goes into the pro's work prior to applying the paint. Not only should nails, staples and screws be remover or hammered back in, but holes and cracks (including cracks where the siding overlaps and around windows/doors) need to be filled with PAINTABLE exterior caulking and fillers. If your not use to caulking and filling, it might be a good idea to practice on some scrap wood prior to caulking filling and painting aluminum, vinyl, or wood siding on the outside of your home. Practice is best since caulk and filler once painted tends to stand out like a sore thumb. Another thing to keep in mind before painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding is when caulking or filling less is more regarding the products being used. What that means is, use less caulk and filler and more applications between the drying of each coat (if needed), as appose to one thick application. Also, cut the end of the caulking tube as small as it can be cut, while still having the hole big enough to let the caulk out, doing so will give you more control over the caulking process. PRESSURE WASHING If your painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding and the siding is excessively dirty or chalky, you may want to use a pressure washer to clean it. When using a washer, be careful not to apply excessive water pressure as this will gouge or leave marks on the siding. Another thing to keep in mind when pressure washing, is to make sure you let the siding dry out completely before applying your coatings. I have found that the best way to clean siding is to use a garden hose and an extension bristle brush (one that won't scratch the surface). A pressure washer tends to mark the finish and cause dirt and grass clipping from the ground to fly up onto your newly rinsed project. Pressure washing can also make cob webs blow off the siding then reattach to a section that was previously cleaned. When ever possible use a regular old garden hose scrub brush and your homes water pressure when cleaning the siding. When the outside of your home is extremely dirty or greasy it may require a commercial cleaning product before you start painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding. Check with your local paint supplier for a cleaner that will work well with the material being painted. WHAT PAINT SHOULD I USE The age old question, what type of coating should I use when painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding, especially if it has been painted before. There are latex paint products on the market that are made to go over alkyd or oil paint, I have used them in most cases with success and in a few cases disaster. My rule of thumb is, old houses that have been regularly painted with oil or alkyd should be repainted with the same product. If you would rather use a latex or have had problems with oil coatings (latex on exterior is suppose to last longer) I would recommend applying a good quality primer over your old oil based painted surface then when the primer is dry put on two coats of latex paint. Using a good primer designed for the type of siding you have is also recommended if your painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding that still has the factory finish on it. PAINT SPRAYING When spray painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding of a home with a paint sprayer, you will need to protect areas that you don't want paint on and also have a good understanding regarding the use of your paint spraying system. Spraying exterior projects will take time off the painting process but can cause imperfections to show in the painted finish, especially when using a sheen other than flat. If your going to spray, be sure to have a good understanding of the equipment being used and product applied. BRUSHING AND ROLLING Your probably wondering how to use a roller/cover while standing on a ladder, well there are an assortment of power rollers you can buy but I find that if you go to the paint store, get a grid that fits in the paint can, then secure the can to the top of the ladder in a way that is easy to apply the paint to both your roller and the siding, you will save some money. Use a can hook (bought at the paint store) bungy cord and most important, a roller/cover that fits in the can. On the other hand, when painting a large amount of siding off a ladder a power roller or paint stick might be a better choice for the job your doing. Speed rollers have a nap on the side that can paint the lip of the siding where the siding overlaps, the problem with a speed roller is they can require some getting use to and can be finicky to handle. If you have never used a speed roller before, then you might want to stick with a regular sash brush (2 1/2") and roller/cover, they will do the job quite nicely. Use the sash brush to coat the lip where each length of siding overlaps the other, then roll on two coats of top quality exterior paint. To have good coverage when painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding along with less drips or runs, your roller and cover should be the same length as your siding is wide. What that means is, if your siding overlaps itself horizontally every six inches then your roller and cover should be six inches long (give or take an inch). For the best results when rolling start from the top and work down to the ground, roll on the paint quickly, then back roll over your wet paint with the empty roller in a continues and horizontal motion using one direction from where the siding starts to where it stops or buts up against the next piece of siding. By rolling in this fashion you should be able to cut down on any flashing or marks that can be left by starting and stopping the roller. SUMMARY If you live in any type of historical home there are in most cases painting regulations enforced by your local government that must be followed. When in doubt, it's best to check, otherwise you may end up repainting at your cost. Some governments also have grants to help pay for the painting of your home, something you might want to consider. A few experts and paint manufacturers recommend using a brush that's about the same width of your siding rather than a roller/cover when painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding. I have always used a roller (except with transparent stains) with few problems and I live in a part of the world where the climate can change from sweltering heat to freezing cold. With that said if you prefer to apply your coatings with a brush, then it definitely won't hurt your project, though it will take you a little longer to do. Use painters tape, drop cloths, plastic and old sheets or curtains to protect areas that you don't want paint on. You may have to secure your coverings to the ground using tent pegs, bricks or rocks, especially if your dealing with windy conditions. Ladders and scaffolding are usually needed when painting exterior work. When using ladders and scaffolding always check with your local government regarding safety procedures. Trees and bushes can be trimmed or tied back away from your working surface, to do so use ropes, tent pegs and an extra pair of hands. Looking for decorating solutions other than painting aluminum, vinyl or wood siding. Click on the home link. You should be able to find an idea by reading the text. If I have missed something or you would like to ask a question, e-mail me. Your address will be held in the strictest confidence. I‘ll also try and answer you, in as prompt a manner as possible. |
