Most mobile homes have metal or vinyl siding as it’s one of the most durable building materials. Although, being durable doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to everyday wear and tear, just like every other material out there.
This factor makes one wonder if painting over vinyl siding is a good idea.
Painting over vinyl siding on mobile homes is not a bad idea. You could accomplish a decent painting with a paint sprayer, paintbrushes, or roller. Even though rollers and paintbrushes are the most recommended methods, the vinyl contains a texture that might be hard to spray over.
Painting a mobile home isn’t that complicated and is not much different from painting a traditional home. However, there’re still some differences in the steps involved in the vinyl project painting. Keep reading to learn more about painting vinyl siding on a mobile home.
Methods To Paint Vinyl Siding On A Mobile Home
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Vinyl siding is usually maintenance-free, mainly because it doesn’t have to be painted. Nonetheless, you find most mobile homeowners painting their vinyl siding because its colors are generally not permanent. This color tends to fade off over time or become uneven in different house areas, giving an unpleasant look.
Whether it starts to fade or not, if you didn’t pick it yourself, you might not like the default color. You may want to change your vinyl siding color if that’s the situation. I’ve done some research to aid you in painting your vinyl siding.
Before you paint your mobile home, ensure you check the weather forecast because it’s a bad idea to paint on a windy day. Heavy wind could stir up dirt and dust, which could completely ruin your work. Also, avoid rainy days, as it could wash off the paint before it gets dry.
Below are some of the tools that you would need to paint your vinyl siding:
- Tarp
- Rustoleum paint
- Primer for exterior vinyl
- Paint trays
- 5-gallon buckets
- Painters tape
- Synthetic fiber paintbrushes
- Clean rags or microfiber cloths
- 1/2-inch nap paint roller.
- Kilz spray paint
Step-By-Step Method Of Painting Your Vinyl Siding
Clean And Prep The Vinyl
Start by laying your tarps around your mobile home, as this can help your paint from spilling on the ground. Proceed by using a commercial cleaner to clean the vinyl properly, but ensure the cleaner is formulated for vinyl cleaning. If you have no access to a commercial cleaner, you could use any homemade solution.
To prepare a homemade solution, you can mix 4 gallons of water with 1/4 cup of mild detergent. Use a brush or broom to brush off any dirt or dead bug from the siding. You might also need a ladder to reach higher and a knife if you have to do some scrapping.
Inspect The Vinyl Siding
The next step is to do a complete walk around the mobile home to know the surface of the vinyl. Check areas where there is rust, peeled paint, spots mold has developed, and droppings from birds and insects. You could use 120-grit sandpaper to get rid of the rust stain if it can’t be scrubbed off.
Also, check areas where there might be damages on the siding. If there’s any, you could use caulk or spackle to repair them if possible. If the damage is an extensive one, you might have to replace the clapper board before you paint the vinyl.
Once all the stain is removed, use a water hose or wet rag to remove soap residue and tiny particles. Ensure this step is correctly done before moving to the next step.
Apply Painter’s Tape To The Siding
You could place covers on the window to avoid getting paint on them. Old newspapers or cardboard boxes can help do the job well. Also, you could use painter’s tape or masking tape to hold the window cover, so they don’t fall off.
Prime The Siding
Now that the vinyl siding has been prepared, it’s time to apply the primer. Pour the primer into a paint tray till it’s half full. Use your paintbrush to apply the primer on the borders of the mobile home.
Using an angled brush might make the work easier, as it helps to reach the inaccessible corners for regular brushing.
Once you’re done with your brush, you can use your roller to apply a primer in large open areas. You should allow the primer to dry before you apply a second coat.
This process could take around 2 to 4 hours. You can use up to a gallon and a half primer if your home is 25 ft or longer.
This gallon of primer should be sufficient if you are doing a double coating job. If you’re using a paint spray, it’s best to use a horizontal motion sweeping spray. This ensures full painting of your vinyl siding.
Do well to dilute the paint properly if you are using a paint spray to avoid damages to the sprayer.
Paint The Siding
After confirming the second coat of primer has dried off, use your angled brush to apply the paint on the borders. Continue by using your roller to paint over the large areas of vinyl that’s been primed. Use the same method to apply the second coating once the first one has dried off.
Usually, painting and priming could take 2 to 4 hours to dry off. Ensure you use even smooth strokes when applying the paint to avoid any brush lines.
If your mobile home is around 25ft, you would likely use two paint cans for a double coat. However, it might be less if you are using a paint spray. If you plan on applying three coats or more, you would need around three to four cans of paint.
Remove The Painter’s Tape
Once the final coat has dried off, you can slowly remove the painter’s tape and window covers from the mobile home.
What Kind Of Paint Do You Use On Vinyl Siding?
Various types of paint can be used on vinyl siding; however, I recommend gloss paint. Gloss, semi-gloss, and high-gloss paint are specially designed for vinyl surfaces.
Applying A Paint Sealant To The Siding (Optional)
If you prefer, you can apply a clear coat of sealant to your vinyl, which adds an extra layer of protection. It can also offer UV protection, especially in areas where the climate is hot and dry.
How To Keep Your Mobile Home’s Paint Job Clean
After this cumbersome vinyl painting project, you would want to make sure it’s not stained within 24 to 48 hours.
Below are some tips to prevent this:
Avoid parking your mobile home under trees during the fall season. During this period, leaves are more likely to fall directly on your mobile home. It could accumulate water and moisture on top of your roof.
This water could then trickle down the vinyl siding and ruin your paint. It may also cause mildew and mold to develop on top of your mobile home.
Ensure your mobile home is not parked directly under sunlight. If you park your mobile home under sunlight for a long time, it could cause the paint to peel off. Endeavor to park your home in a garage or a shaded area if possible.
Always wash off bird dropping and dead insects as soon as possible. This could become permanent stains the longer they remain on the surface.
Conclusion
Painting over vinyl siding is not a bad idea if you decide to give your mobile home a new look. The steps above would ensure you can have a clean painting process.
