Painting Siding

 

DAVID: Hi, yeah. I purchased a home about 11 – purchased it a couple of years ago but it’s about 11, 12 years old. And we’re looking at possibly painting the outside of it and I notice that the material that – it looked like wood; I thought it was wood. The material is kind of like pressboard but it has the look of wood.

 

TOM: OK.

 

DAVID: And so I was beginning to wonder what it was and whether or not I would be doing the right thing by actually trying to paint it as opposed to maybe removing it or something.

 

TOM: Well, is it a composite?

 

DAVID: Yes.

 

TOM: Which is sort of like a prefinished sort of a pressboard?

 

DAVID: Yeah, yeah. I mean it – from the outside of it, it has the grain and everything of wood. You know, that type of thing?

 

TOM: Yeah. I think that’s composite. I think it’s composite. And you know, in the 20 years I spent as a home inspector, I used to tell my clients that that siding was fine as long as they painted it every day before they went to work. (Leslie chuckles)

 

DAVID: I see.

 

TOM: It doesn’t stand up too well. But painting it will preserve it. You need to be careful to clean it well and prime it properly but then you can paint it and that’s going to buy you some time. It’s not the best quality product but it’s adequate and you do need to keep it well protected.

 

DAVID: OK, is it something that I should consider removing and or maybe putting siding on?

 

TOM: If you’re ready to do the siding job, I wouldn’t put it in the emergency category. You certainly could paint it and get away with it for a few more years, David. But you know, it’s not a product that’s very, very durable so eventually you’re going to want to remove and replace it or side over it with another product.

 

DAVID: OK. Excellent. Well, thank you very much.

 

TOM: You’re welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.