12 Cheap Renovation Ideas Under $5,000 – Forbes Home
... simply want a change of pace, here are some easy home renovations that you can do for under $5,000. Estimated costs are based on the U.S. ...
paint the exterior
The national average to professionally<anchor>paint the exterior</anchor> of a 2-story house can be as low as $3,000. If you feel like DIY, costs can range between $500 and $1,000 depending on the size of your house, including supplies. If you don’t want to commit to re-doing the whole paint job, consider just re-painting the trim: it will be cheaper and less work, but still, give your home a fresh look.
How to Paint Vinyl Siding – Forbes Home
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# How To Paint Vinyl Siding



Nick spent 10 years in print journalism before landing in digital publishing within the home improvement space. In addition to writing for Forbes Home, Nick contributes to publications like Angi, Trusted Company Reviews and Family Handyman. Through this, he has developed a wealth of knowledge in a variety of topics ranging from solar and home security to moving and home warranties.



Sami Allen is an editor with a decade of experience in editorial and who is currently the managing editor at Forbes Home. She got her start in lifestyle writing and editing at Oprah Magazine and more recently sharpened her home repair and design skills at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor.



Nick spent 10 years in print journalism before landing in digital publishing within the home improvement space. In addition to writing for Forbes Home, Nick contributes to publications like Angi, Trusted Company Reviews and Family Handyman. Through this, he has developed a wealth of knowledge in a variety of topics ranging from solar and home security to moving and home warranties.



Sami Allen is an editor with a decade of experience in editorial and who is currently the managing editor at Forbes Home. She got her start in lifestyle writing and editing at Oprah Magazine and more recently sharpened her home repair and design skills at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor.

Contributor,

Editor

Updated: Mar 22, 2022, 7:09pm

We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Home. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

How To Paint Vinyl Siding

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## Table of Contents

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- Working time: 1 to 3 hours
- Total time: 2 days
- Skill level: Beginner
- Project cost: A gallon of paint runs between $50 to $200. A gallon of exterior paint typically covers 350 square feet.

Can you paint vinyl siding? The short answer is yes, thanks to advances in paint. In the past, it wasn’t possible to paint vinyl siding because of the way that vinyl siding expands and contracts throughout the year. Paint that mirrored the siding’s movement didn’t exist. But now, paints like latex urethane can handle the expansion and contraction. Prepare for a multi-day project when painting vinyl siding because the existing siding needs extensive cleaning and time to dry before painting.

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## When to Paint Vinyl Siding

As with any exterior painting project, you’ll need to find a few consecutive days of suitable weather. Vinyl siding tends to expand in warm weather and contract in cold weather, so avoid the cold, as well as hot, humid or windy days.

Vinyl siding paint also tends to take on dings and chips over the life of a house, so if those eyesores have started to accumulate, then it’s time to consider painting vinyl siding.

## Safety Considerations

An exterior painting project will require the use of a ladder, so be sure to place it on level ground and practice safe ladder use.

### Tools

- Hose and spray nozzle
- Bucket
- Soft-bristle brush, sponges or rags
- Paint roller or paint sprayer
- Paintbrushes

### Materials

- Laundry detergent
- General-purpose cleaning powder
- Laundry bleach
- Painter’s tape
- Masking material
- Water

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## Instructions

### 1. Pick the Proper Paint

Since vinyl siding can change shape throughout the year, it’s important to find the right paint. Pick a paint that has acrylic and urethane resins, which helps the paint stick to the vinyl siding. Pick a color that matches the color of your vinyl siding or appears lighter in color. Darker colors absorb more heat and can lead to warped siding. A latex urethane paint made specifically for exterior use is your best option for vinyl siding paint. Ask a paint professional at a home improvement store to find the proper vinyl siding paint that will last.

### 2. Mix Cleaning Solution

A simple mix of a gallon of water, 1/3 cup of laundry detergent, a 2/3 cup of powdered house cleaner and a quart of oxygen-based, liquid laundry bleach can be used to clean a home’s siding. Use the cleaning solution by applying with a sprayer and scrubbing the siding with a rag or soft-bristled brush. You don’t need a sprayer to clean the siding, but it can help speed up the process. Be sure to rinse off all remaining residue after cleaning and allow the siding to dry.

### 3. Prime Siding and Paint

If the color of your vinyl siding has worn away, you’ll want to prime the siding. You can paint the siding with a paint sprayer or a roller. Use painter’s tape to cover trim and other areas you won’t paint. Finish the first coat by using a brush around the edges and corners.

### 4. Let Paint Dry and Apply Second Coat

Let the first coat of paint dry before applying the second coat. The second coat will need a full day to dry before you inspect the house to see if areas need an additional coat.

### 5. Clean Up

Once the second coat has dried, you can begin removing the painter’s tape around the masked off areas. Also, take a look to see if any spots need a touch-up.

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THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary.

1

Angi

Task Type

Siding

Estimation Fee

None, Free Estimates

Response Time

Excellent

1

Angi

On Angi's Website

## When to Call a Pro

If the project is too large for you or if you’re short on the time needed for the project, then hiring a pro is a good idea. Beware the cost to paint vinyl siding runs between $3,000 to $5,000.

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## More from  Home Improvement

Information provided on Forbes Home is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.

Forbes Home adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

Nick spent 10 years in print journalism before landing in digital publishing within the home improvement space. In addition to writing for Forbes Home, Nick contributes to publications like Angi, Trusted Company Reviews and Family Handyman. Through this, he has developed a wealth of knowledge in a variety of topics ranging from solar and home security to moving and home warranties.

Sami Allen is an editor with a decade of experience in editorial and who is currently the managing editor at Forbes Home. She got her start in lifestyle writing and editing at Oprah Magazine and more recently sharpened her home repair and design skills at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor.

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