One feature will become very apparent while house shopping in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas of the United States: vinyl siding on homes. Dent-resistant, durable and can last up to 40 years, it’s no wonder that this material is competing with metal and wood siding. It also won’t corrode, rot or split. For humid climates, it’s also a relief to find out that vinyl siding is resistant to moisture so it’ll avoid warping or bending.

Vinyl siding can also be installed on top of existing home exteriors that already have brick, stucco and wood. However, homeowners should ask contractors if it would be a better idea to remove any of those three instead of putting vinyl over it. As hardy as it may be, aesthetics can make a homeowner (who isn’t already a contractor, real estate investor or do-it-yourself enthusiast) walk on by if it doesn’t look as attractive as brick or wood. But can you paint vinyl siding to make it look even better? Find out here.

Painting Vinyl: Yay Or Nay?

So, can you paint vinyl siding? Before you pull out the paintbrushes and look over various colors, keep in mind that vinyl siding comes in a wide variety of colors already. And those colorful vinyl options don’t fade or chip. If you can find the siding in the color you want, start off with that. Unlike wood siding, there is no requirement to regularly repaint or re-stain a prior paint job either. To keep the colors in good shape, avoid abrasive cleaners, rinse loose debris off of vinyl siding, and use a soft-bristled brush with soapy water to get stubborn dirt off before it settles.

While it is possible to paint vinyl, this may become tricky if you encounter any property damage later. Because original vinyl has several perks (mentioned above), paint chemicals can sometimes clash with the original material. Depending on the vinyl siding manufacturer, they won’t even honor the warranty if the siding has been repainted.

Just because you can paint vinyl doesn’t mean you should, and there are differing opinions about whether it adds value to the home. Some housing experts state that engineered wood or high-quality wood exteriors still have more value than vinyl. Brick siding also has the ability to be more versatile (as featured in the image above) when it comes to color and design. Other housing experts believe a fresh coat of paint, even on vinyl siding, can add more value to the home pre-sale regardless even if vinyl is described to look “flat.”

So can you paint vinyl siding? Yes. Should you paint vinyl siding? That depends on how you feel about the potential risks you’re taking with your insurer and warranty company if something goes wrong. Better to shop carefully for your initial vinyl siding in the colors you already want than to have to paint them later.