When choosing a siding material for your home, it’s important to consider how much maintenance will be required over the years. Part of that equation includes asking if your siding material of choice needs to be painted—and how often—to keep the home well sealed.
Painting your siding is a tedious job—one that only the hardcore DIYers tackle alone. It’s often best to leave it to a team of professionals who will do a top-notch job. Read on to discover which types of siding can be painted (and which need it more frequently than others).
9 Paintable Siding Materials
Siding doesn’t last forever, but maintaining it and painting it regularly can help it last as long as possible. Painting your siding gives you every opportunity to change your color scheme and update your home’s looks. Here are some paintable siding options.
1. Wood Siding
Wood siding needs to be re-painted frequently (approximately every 6-8 years). It requires the highest maintenance of any siding type when it comes to re-painting. Why? Because the wood needs to be protected from precipitation. Your wood-covered home will look its best when it is painted “on schedule” rather than waiting for it to flake or show signs of moisture intrusion. Paint it as preventative maintenance, and you’ll stay ahead of costly water infiltration many homes experience.
Note: At times, wood siding needs more than just paint. It may need exterior wood treatment, or it may need a board or two replaced if they have incurred water intrusion.
2. Cedar Siding
Porous wood like cedar needs the added protection of a color stain to safeguard it from the elements. Its surface isn’t smooth, so a penetrating product is needed to bond and protect the wood from water intrusion. It should be repainted every 5-7 years.
3. Metal Siding
Metal siding often comes with a factory-applied, “primed” coat of paint. It may need a topcoat of paint when it is installed to bring out its beauty and safeguard it from the elements. Over time, metal’s finish fades and needs another coat of paint. High-quality acrylic paint is used to repaint metal siding. And it’s vital that the surface be clean and free from dirt before paint is applied. A spray application of paint can create the most uniform, attractive, brushstroke-free appearance.
4. Fiber Cement
James Hardie fiber cement siding comes with ColorPlus Technology (a factory applied finish that lasts up to 15 years). Hardie siding needs the least amount of maintenance when it comes to repainting it. Their factory paint application is so strong that it stands up to the elements twice as long as other finishes.
James Hardie backs their ColorPlus boards with a 15-year warranty against peeling and flaking. That’s pretty awesome since wood siding needs to be repainted every 6-8 years. If you factor in the time and money you will save in painting alone—by investing in Hardie siding—you can see it’s well worth the initial investment.
James Hardie also offers pre-primed siding that needs to be painted as soon as it is installed. Pre-primed boards will need to be painted approximately every 10 years.
5. Vinyl Siding
While vinyl doesn’t fade for decades, it can be repainted—with caution. Choosing a vinyl-safe color is vital. If a color is not vinyl-safe, the siding could warp in the heat of the sunlight, so it’s vital you pick a color that doesn’t have black as a colorant.
6. Cement Siding
There is no need to prime before painting cement siding. Use 100% acrylic paint for the best results. Wash the siding first, let it dry, cover it with a primer made for cement, and then apply two coats of paint, leaving a few hours between each coat. Finally, apply a sealant. This is a lot of hard work, but it should last 10-15 years.
7. Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding can be prone to corrosion, particularly if it is attached to a wooden wall. It’s important to use paint with a rust-inhibiting primer and a finish coat to keep the siding from deteriorating. Test the paint in a small sample area. Your home should need repainting approximately every 8-15 years.
8. Stucco Siding
High-maintenance stucco needs fresh paint every 5-10 years. It is prone to water intrusion, so it should be carefully inspected and repaired before putting a fresh coat of paint on it. Stucco is porous and holds moisture. Choosing the proper paint will limit absorption and allow it to last longer.
9. Brick Siding
While brick is a durable siding material, once brick is painted, it should be painted approximately every 5 years to retain its integrity and appearance. Unfortunately, paint can start to bubble, blister, chip, and peel within a few years.
Avoid Common Paint Problems Like Peeling, Blistering, and Flaking
To get the best results from updating your home with new paint, choose superior paint if you are a DIYer, or hire a professional to paint your home. Top-quality paint expands and contracts with your siding as it heats or cools when temperatures fluctuate. It also resists unsightly peeling, blistering, and cracking.
Update Your Home’s Curb Appeal with a Fresh Coat of Paint
Your home should be a reflection of you, and its exterior gives the first impression to your friends and family. Put out the welcome mat with a fresh coat of exterior paint so you can feel proud of your home’s looks again. At JD Hostetter & Associates, we use only top brands of paint on your exterior so you get the high performance you deserve and a great return on your investment.
Since 2004, we have won the Angi Super Service Award for our precise, professional manner in which we approach your home’s exterior painting process. Learn more about how our painting services can deliver an affordable, long-lasting coat of paint to your exterior—increasing your home’s value and beauty.
