Painting Vinyl Siding vs. Replacing: A Comparison Guide
As a homeowner, you love your home and take great pride in how it looks. You manicure your lawn to be the envy of the neighborhood every summer. You regularly clean and maintain the exterior of your home—roof, siding, and all!
The only problem is your vinyl siding is starting to look tired. (It may be in fairly acceptable condition but the color has faded and you’ve had the same siding for years.) So, you’re debating whether replacing or painting vinyl siding is a better option.
Both painting and replacing your vinyl siding have a laundry list of pros and cons, but the positive side is that both options will get your worn out vinyl siding looking like new!
Can’t decide which is best for your home? Here’s a handy comparison guide that will help you decide whether replacing or painting vinyl siding is best for you!
Things To Consider, Whether You Replace or Paint Vinyl Siding
There are several factors to consider before you decide to paint old siding or replace it with new siding. Even if it appears to be in okay condition, there may be problems underneath your existing siding. There are several things to consider before making your final decision.
Siding Age and Overall Condition
The first item to consider is the age of your home’s siding. Newer siding is easier and more affordable to paint. Repainting it will look good and the siding will last.
Older siding can be more challenging as you may need to replace it in a few years. Major siding issues include holes, cracks, mildew, rot and deterioration. These issues will cause more damage to your home later on, and it’ll be more worthwhile replacing the siding.
While a fresh coat of paint may make it appear better, the problems underneath aren’t going to disappear, and you’ll eventually have to get new siding.
Cost of Replacement vs. Cost of Painting
Replacing or painting vinyl siding is not a cheap nor easy endeavor for many homeowners. However, there is a stark difference between the costs for both replacing and painting.
Painting is often the more popular option because it’s faster, easier and cheaper. Replacing vinyl siding requires more work and time making it a costlier endeavor compared to painting.
You need to consider your budget and needs to determine whether painting or replacing your siding is best for you.
Is There a Warranty for the Current Siding?
Most vinyl siding comes with a warranty. If you’re thinking about replacing, it’s likely the siding you choose will have a warranty.
There are different warranties but most will protect you from damage, dents, or improper installation. You’ll need to do your homework as these warranties can change.
A painting company may offer a warranty on their service. You should note, however, painting newer siding may void an existing warranty.
The Pros of Replacing Vinyl Siding
Replacing aging vinyl siding can make a big impact on your home’s value. Afterall, it lasts longer and packs many more benefits compared to painting your siding. What are the benefits replacing your vinyl siding has to offer?
Vinyl Siding is Fairly Affordable to Replace
While it’s certainly not pennies, vinyl siding replacement IS affordable in the long run and will save you more money over time.
New vinyl requires far less maintenance and lasts longer than painting, which saves you money and time on repairs and frequent paint jobs. Not only that, but vinyl is a high-quality type of siding, and it’s going to be the better choice than keeping old, outdated aluminum siding or wood siding.
Vinyl Siding is Low Maintenance
You never need to paint high-quality vinyl siding. Manufacturers cover every inch of new vinyl siding with a coat of quality paint designed to not chip, fade, crack or bubble even under extreme temperatures.
Since the color remains vibrant for the life of the siding, there’s no need to worry about fading. The only maintenance required of you is occasional cleaning (about once per year). Simply use a pressure washer or a cloth with soap and water, if you want to do it by hand.
It’s a Trusted, Long-Term Solution
Replacing siding, as opposed to painting vinyl siding, is a long-term solution, as well as an upgrade! Unlike painting, new vinyl has a lifespan of around 25 years, sometimes longer with proper maintenance, so you won’t need to worry about repainting your vinyl after a few short years.
You’ll also get more in return with new vinyl siding. You can fix the damage that occurred to the old siding, add an underlayment and improve insulation and energy efficiency. In return, you’ll save money on your energy bill during the winter months!
Vinyl Siding Offers a Variety of Choices
Replacing your vinyl siding is exciting because there are many different types and styles of vinyl to choose from. You don’t need to stick with the current style of your home’s siding. A few popular types of vinyl siding include:
- Clapboard
- Smooth
- Wood Grain
- Board & Batten
- Traditional Lap
- Dutch Lap
This list is only a fraction of the styles and features available. Take this opportunity to give your home the exterior you’ve always wanted.
The Cons of Replacing Vinyl Siding
While replacing vinyl siding is rich with benefits, there are a couple of cons to know about. The main drawback to replacing your siding is the cost.
Replacing your old siding with vinyl is certainly more expensive than painting. You’ll need to purchase the siding (which can vary in cost, depending on the quality of siding you’re looking for). You’ll also have to pay for the labor to remove the old siding and replace it with the new vinyl.
The cost for vinyl siding can range between $2,000 and over $20,000, depending on the size of your home and the cost of the new material
New vinyl siding, however, looks great and will last decades.
The Pros of Painting Vinyl Siding
Painting vinyl siding can transform the exterior of your home. And, what typically attracts people to paint is that it’s “easier” than replacing the siding. Besides its ease-of-use, here are some pros to painting your vinyl siding.
Affordability – Paint is Cheap
Painting is one of the few home improvement projects that can drastically improve the look of your home without costing a great deal. The cost of painting is considerably less than replacing vinyl siding as it requires less labor and cheaper materials.
Whether you decide to turn the repainting into a DIY project or end up hiring a professional, there will be less work required compared to replacing the siding. However, spending less on painting now can cost you more later, because paint will not last as long as new vinyl siding.
More Color Options
While there are many vinyl siding color options, paint colors are endless. Painting allows you to mix custom paint colors to match the exact color you have in mind. There’s also no need to wait or rely on what the manufacturer has in stock.
The Cons of Painting Vinyl Siding
It may be tempting to head to the store and start stocking up on painting supplies after learning about the benefits. However, you need to be aware of the cons of painting.
Painting Vinyl Siding Isn’t Long-Lasting
The color and look from painting vinyl will look great when it’s fresh. Unfortunately, this fresh coat of paint won’t last as long as replacing the siding.
You will have to do more work to maintain your siding after painting, because the paint will chip, peel, or crack with changes in the weather and temperature. Exterior paint typically has a lifespan of around five to 10 years in ideal conditions. You’ll need to reapply the paint as needed.
You Can’t Go Darker
When painting vinyl siding, experts recommend selecting a color that’s the same shade or lighter than the current color of your home. Avoid using a darker color if possible. With dark colors, your home will absorb more heat.
This extra heat can cause damage to the vinyl siding. The most common issues include collapsing or buckling siding.
Painting is Time-Consuming
While painting can be an easier DIY feat compared to replacing vinyl siding, it is a time-consuming project.
You or a professional will need to clean your home’s entire exterior before painting by removing all the dirt, grime, algae, and other debris that built up over time so it doesn’t ruin your paint job.
After cleaning, you will need to prime the siding for the paint job. After priming you can use brushes, rollers or even a sprayer to apply an even coat of paint. Be careful, because uneven coats show easily.
Selecting the Right Type of Paint
You can’t use any old type of paint for your home’s exterior. It endures the elements every day of the year!
Be sure to invest in quality exterior paint that fits your climate.
If you live in an area that experiences all four seasons, you’ll need paint that can expand and contract with changing temperatures. The wrong type of paint can lead to peeling paint or cracks that can hurt the value of your home.
Painting is a Short-Term Solution
Painting vinyl siding is a short-term solution good for improving curb appeal (and not necessarily overall value). Keep in mind that a paint job typically only lasts 5 to 10 years before it needs to be repainted.
Update Your Home’s Exterior with High-Quality Vinyl Shake Siding!
Both replacing and painting vinyl siding are great options to improve the look and feel of your home’s exterior siding. While the painting will cost less, replacing old siding with vinyl offers a timeless, hassle-free look that lasts for decades!
Improving your home’s exterior today with high-quality vinyl shake siding.
