Has your siding recently started to fade and age? If the answer is yes, then you are not alone. While this may be a sign that it’s time for new siding, there are some quick DIY projects you can do to refresh your faded siding. This blog post will discuss how to refresh faded siding with paint and sealant and three other techniques that require minimal effort!
Why Does Siding Fade? What Causes It?
Siding can fade for several different reasons, including sun exposure and weather. Over time, the elements can cause your siding to degrade in appearance. In addition, algae growth on wood or vinyl siding is another common culprit of faded exterior cladding.
Vinyl siding fades when it’s exposed to intense sunlight for an extended period. If you have ever walked past a house that has faded siding, then you know how noticeable this can be.
Aluminum siding, on the other hand, is manufactured with anodized paint. This type of paint has a characteristic gloss finish that makes aluminum siding look more attractive and vibrant than vinyl or wood. However, this coating can wear away after several years outside.
How to Revive Faded Siding
Most homeowners would want to repair faded siding, and their first move would be to look into siding restoration kits. These kits can usually be found at home improvement stores, and they typically come with a cleaning solution, sealant, or paint that can help revive faded siding to its former glory.
However, if you’re not comfortable using these types of products on your house’s exterior, then you could always hire out the restoration process instead. Since every home is different, you should also remember that you might need a few trial runs before finding the right solution for your particular siding. You may want to consider having small sections of faded siding painted or cleaned first and seeing how it works out.
Clean Siding for Fast Results
If you want to give your faded siding a quick cleaning before deciding whether or not it needs restoration, then you can always try using water mixed with vinegar. Just mix seven parts water to three parts vinegar—or a quart of bleach, a gallon of water, and a third of a cup of laundry detergent if you need something more robust.
Then, spray this mixture onto your siding. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing the siding with an old towel or rag. You can also use your garden hose if you have one available; just make sure that your water pressure is low enough to avoid damaging the siding.
Apply a fresh coat of paint
If you have tried cleaning your siding and it still looks faded, then you can try painting over the top. However, ensure that all the dirt is completely removed before applying a new layer of paint; otherwise, this could trap even more grime underneath and give your exterior cladding an unsightly appearance.
Instead of repainting over the top, you could also try to revive your faded siding by first applying a primer and then painting it with new exterior paint. However, before choosing which type of paint you should use on your siding’s surface, make sure that it is compatible with vinyl or aluminum cladding.
Painting Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding is designed to be rust-resistant, which means that you will need a particular type of paint when reviving it. You can use an exterior latex primer and topcoat to revive faded aluminum siding.
However, if your house has already been appropriately repainted with the right kind of paint, there’s no reason not to use it. Just make sure that your paint is either 100% acrylic or an exterior latex, and you will be able to restore the look of faded aluminum siding without any problems whatsoever.
In Conclusion
It is possible to revive faded siding, whether it’s made from aluminum or vinyl. However, you should always ensure that your siding is entirely free of grime or dirt before applying a new coat. If there are any holes in the surface, this can be repaired first with epoxy filler and a putty knife before repainting it.
If you want to restore faded siding quickly without using paint or chemicals, you can always try having the siding professionally cleaned instead.
