How to Rejuvenate Your Vinyl/Aluminum Siding In Horsham, PA

The mild temperatures of spring and early summer are ideal for refreshing exterior siding despite all the happenings around us.
It’s more convenient to paint at a moderate temperature, especially since the high temperatures can cause adhesion problems to the paint.
Is your home’s siding vinyl or aluminum already painted?
Did you know that these materials can be repainted? By refreshing you’re siding rather than replacing it, you will save money.
Here are some quick tips and steps on how to give your siding a fresh look in Horsham, PA.

Refresh the Paint on Vinyl/Aluminum Siding

Vinyl and aluminum are normally pre-painted at the factory, or otherwise, you or the previous owners have probably repainted.
Here is what you need to do;

Identify What Type of Paint Was Applied To Your Siding

There is a general rule here: you cannot cover a surface painted with an oil-based paint using water-based paint. The water-based paint does not adhere to the oil. Eventually, it will, therefore, flake.

If your home is a fairly recent construction, it is highly likely that your siding was painted with water-based paint.

However, if this is an older house, or you want to be sure, there is an easy and quick test to perform to identify the current type of paint.
• Using a cloth soaked in methyl hydrate (wood alcohol or fondue alcohol), rub your siding. If the paint discolors and is visible on your rag, it is a water-based paint. Otherwise, it is an oil-based paint.

Prepare the surface before applying the paint.

Before applying the paint or primer, make sure your surface is cleaned well; otherwise, the dirt will affect paint adhesion and also the beauty of your finish.

You can rinse your siding using a pressure washer if it is only slightly dusty.
However, it is best to use a TSP cleaner to ensure that there is no contaminant on your siding.

After cleaning the surface, you should ideally wait 24 hours before applying the paint.

Has the old paint on your siding chipped in places? Remove any paint that may be peeling, cracking, or chipping. To do this, you can use the pressure jet.
However, it is best to use sandpaper to remove all of the chippings.

Apply A Primer to Your Siding, or Not?

Since vinyl and aluminum siding are generally pre-painted (with water-based products), it is not normally necessary to apply a primer.

However, if during the alcohol test, you discovered that your siding is covered in oil paint, or you want to make a drastic change in color, you can apply a coat of exterior primer.

Apply Paint to Your Vinyl/Aluminum Siding

Once your siding is well prepared, you can finally refresh the look of your home by applying a new coat of paint!

For vinyl or aluminum siding already painted, a latex-based paint is the best option.
Latex-based paints can withstand temperature changes better without cracking.
To your advantage, they are also easy to apply, free from strong odors, and easy to work with.

To paint both vinyl and aluminum siding, use a roller and a brush.
Normally a standard roller is used, with a pile of 10mm thick.

To achieve an ideal finish, it is recommended to apply two coats of paint, even for a refresh.

Ideal conditions for painting outdoors?

When starting an exterior painting project, the weather conditions must be taken into account.

Of course, your siding needs to be dry before painting, and you don’t want it to rain on freshly applied paint.
So, it is ideal for painting during a 48-hour period without rain (a day without rain before application and a day without rain after applying the paint).

Also, avoid painting in direct sunlight; otherwise, the paint dries too quickly and does not adhere well to the surface.
It is therefore preferable not to paint if your siding is hot to the touch. When it comes to cold, each painting has different restrictions.
However, the average minimum temperature for painting outdoors is 4.4 degrees Celsius.

Request for a Free Painting Quote

As always, if you don’t have the skills or tools to handle your painting or touch up, you should consider hiring a professional painting contractor in Horsham, PA

Hiring on a professional painting contractor like Aspen Painting is the guarantee of a flawless, durable, and high-quality paint job.

We have years of experience in cabinet and furniture painting and staining with a long list of happy customers in Horsham, PA, Ambler, Dresher, Ft. Washington, and Blue Bell, PA.

Call us today on 215-773-8422 for a FREE estimate to get started.