Updating Your Exterior: How to Prep Siding for Painting

Giving your siding a fresh coat of paint can update your exterior and enhance your curb appeal. But before you paint your siding, you’ll need to clean it first. Paint might not stick to a dirty surface. The roofing repair experts at Pawcatuck Roofing Co. show you how below. 

Wash Off Dirt Using a Garden House 

A garden hose should be enough to remove dirt and stains on wood, vinyl, aluminum and fiber cement siding. But if a few stains remain, use a nylon brush and mild detergent to scrub them off. If there’s mold or mildew on your siding, use a bleach solution made of four parts water and one part bleach. 

Remove Chalk Deposits and Stubborn Stains Using a Pressure Washer

Rub a cloth across your siding. If there’s a powdery residue on it, you’ll need to use a power washer. Make sure to use a low-pressure setting; high water pressure can damage your siding. Rinse from the top going down, but take care not to spray water behind the siding or near the doors and windows. Afterward, let the siding dry for at least two days. 

Remove Peeling Paint 

If there’s no peeling paint, you can paint your siding. But if there are cracks on the coat of paint, you’ll need to remove the peeling portions using hand or power scrapers. Peeling happens when there’s moisture behind the siding or the siding wasn’t properly painted. Afterward, use sandpaper or a sander to smooth the edges of the coat that are still intact.

Prime Wood Siding 

Some experts recommend removing the entire coat of paint and applying a primer on the surface. Oil-based primer can hide imperfections in wood siding and act as a foundation for water-based paint. 

Maintaining Your Exterior 

However, if you’re painting your siding to maintain your curb appeal, make sure the other parts of your exterior are in good condition as well. Have a roofing contractor check your roof and your exterior for signs of damage. 

Looking for an experienced contractor in your area? 

Pawcatuck Roofing Co., a contractor with more than seven decades’ worth of experience, offers residential and commercial roof replacement services. To get a free estimate, call us at (401) 262-0665 or leave us a message on this form. We serve homeowners in Westerly, RI.