Vinyl Siding Preservative?

[Milton]

I clean the vinyl siding on my house once a year with a somewhat diluted bleach solution.I have noticed the siding is covered with a very thin white coating now after cleaning for some 11 years.Is there a spray on preservative for vinyl siding that will work and can be afforded?

 

[m1gunner]

Sounds like your siding has started breaking down and is chalking. If so, it is time to replace it. You can paint it, but it won't last real long (probably a couple years).

Vinyl siding is essentially not much more than nail on paint, and it suffers from sun and heat exposure especially in the south.

If you can swing it, replace with Hardi-Plank siding. Provides much greater protection to your house, and is fire resistant. Although you have to paint it, it comes pre primed, and holds paint much better than wood siding.

Good luck.

 

[truckemup97]

Good advice from m1gunner. If you do go back with vinyl, you might want to find a milder cleaner so that it will last longer. Dish soap and a brush should clean it if you're doing it once a year. You could follow that up with a lower pressure pressure washer (1200-1500 psi) if you wanted. Don't spray up, though, as you can damage your siding or force water into the cracks, or both.

 

[Milton]

Thanks for the replys! I do not think the siding is bad as it is still very flexible and the coating on it is very thin.I use no pressure washers on this siding but only the light pressure of a hose at normal water pressures.I sure cannot afford new siding right now,heck I can't afford to paint ! I was just hoping that with all the plastic/vinyl/leather preservers out there for cars and trucks there was something that would help extend the life of this stuff!

 

[loutent]

The vinyl on our house is about 25 years old and is living up to the "vinyl is final" adage. Yes it does have some fading here and there - I have always found it worse to mess with it (like rubbing a cleaner on it) as then it never looks right. I do power wash our north side yearly (mildew) and that has not shown any worse for wear than the rest of the house.

I don't like the looks of vinyl - especially that "wavy" look on long runs (and yes it was installed properly initially - not setting nails etc) and would like to get the hardie stuff mentioned earlier - I've seen it and it does look great. I have too many Smiths on my want list to worry about that right now though

 

[DeadAye]

Our house has vinyl too - been on there for nearly 20 years.
I wash it with a bleach/TSP/water solution - From the bottom up
Rinse - From the top down
Wash again with Murphy Oil Soap and water.
Rinse.

I spray whichever solution with one of those pump-up sprayers and then scrub some with a brush on a long stick. I also have a bucket truck, which really helps

Do it again next year.

 

[caseydog]

If I were to try one product it would be 303 Aerospace Protectant, it's the only product I know that lasts near long enough to be of any use and it includes UV protection.

I would only do a very small (inconspicuous) area to start and let that weather and see how it does. Can be hard to find locally, easy to get on the net and not too expensive at $20 a quart, gallons are available if you need that much ($59). a little goes a long way, more will not protect longer.

Ray

 

[Big Cholla]

Believe it or not, you need to try the common household furniture polish called, "Lemon Pledge". It will cut the grime and leave a protective coating. Don't believe me? Buy a very small can and try it on the most sun damaged side you have. You will windup wiping down the entire vinyl siding with Lemon Pledge. .......... Big Cholla

 

[Alk8944]

Believe it or not, you need to try the common household furniture polish called, "Lemon Pledge". It will cut the grime and leave a protective coating. Don't believe me? Buy a very small can and try it on the most sun damaged side you have. You will windup wiping down the entire vinyl siding with Lemon Pledge. .......... Big Cholla

Never, never, never put any form of oil on Vinyl. Contrary to intuition it will not preserve Vinyl but, rather, will cause it to become brittle and crack or break under a minor impact.

 

[sar4937]

Have you checked out the siding washes that are commercially available? I would think that some company has incorporated a protectorant. Olympic sells this product, so do others http://www.olympic.com/stain/Find_Products/cleaner_wash.aspx

 

[K-22]

I clean the vinyl siding on my house once a year with a somewhat diluted bleach solution.I have noticed the siding is covered with a very thin white coating now after cleaning for some 11 years.Is there a spray on preservative for vinyl siding that will work and can be afforded?

It would appear you are getting some oxidization on your siding. This will not hurt anything except the appearence, and make it a little more difficult to keep clean.
As far as painting, vinyl siding paints very well. If you decide to paint, use a color no darker than the existing color,(a darker color can lead to expansion-contraction issues) and be certain to use a top quality 100% acrylic latex paint. (no vinyl or vinyl acrylic paints).

Best,
Gary

 

[Milton]

Thanks for all the help!! I think I will try to get some 303 and try it out as a test-can't hurt!

 

[Gun Smoke]

+10 on the 303 protectant product...It's the best stuff I have ever tried for anything, Auto, vinyl, leather seats, even painted surfaces...When I get home from the lake with either the boat or sea-doos a quick spray and wipe down has them looking like new....Try some you will like it...

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Stay inside-that way only the ppeople outside have to look at it.
It's why I don't wash the Suburban-the dirt protects the paint

 

[Milton]

Now why didn't I think of that ???