08/26/2026
It’s not very often I disagree with This Old House https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JxCmTZ5u4/?mibextid=wwXIfr, but i definitely do in this case. Unless you’re repainting a faded tan siding tan again, I’ve never seen painted siding last the test of time. It either warps from the sun, or the joints expand and contract to the point where the old color shines through.
Vinyl siding is designed to expand and contract with temperature changes. Paint it a very dark color—especially black or charcoal—and it can absorb a whole lot more heat than it was designed to handle.
The result? ☀️ + 🏠 = vinyl siding that starts looking like it was left too close to the grill.
Excessive heat can cause siding to warp, buckle, ripple, or even permanently distort, just like the siding in this photo. And once vinyl gets cooked out of shape, it might as well look like play doh.
If you’re thinking about painting vinyl siding, make sure the color and paint are specifically approved for vinyl—and be very careful about going substantially darker than the original color. 🦏
