Repainting a mobile home sounds may seem easy until you learn that. There are different paints for different types of siding on mobile homes metal, vinyl, and fiber cement. Pick the wrong paint off the shelf, and before you know it. You will have peeling or deformed siding in no time at all.
I learned about the dangers of choosing the wrong paint for my mobile home after witnessing. How the vinyl siding of my neighbor was warping due to a poorly selected paint job. In this article, we explain what to look for when repainting the exterior of your mobile home.
Choosing the Right Paint for Exterior Mobile Home Surfaces
Not every exterior paint works equally well across different mobile home materials. Understanding these differences prevents an expensive, short-lived repaint job.
Acrylic Latex vs Oil-Based Paint
Good acrylic latex paint continues to be the best suggestion for exterior painting of mobile homes. It has greater elasticity and expands and shrinks better with changing temperatures compared to oil-based paint. That is extremely important because mobile homes move more than traditionally constructed ones due to seasonal heating and cooling. Oil-based paint has excellent stain resistance and glossiness but takes from 8 to 24 hours to dry between layers. Water-based latex paint dries within 1 to 6 hours which helps speed up the whole process. Another advantage of latex paint is that it contains less volatile organic compounds (VOC) thus it smells better during application. As for painting siding, you should pay attention to an all-acrylic formula.
This difference is important when it comes to long-term weather resistance, something that many consumers fail to understand. From my experience, spending just a little bit more money on a good-quality acrylic latex will be well worth it in terms of reduced number of repainting cycles in the future. The traditional oil paint will be still relevant in some cases, especially when painting trim parts, however, when it comes to covering all exterior surfaces, the acrylic latex will definitely prevail. Either way, make sure that you buy the paint that was designed specifically for exterior applications.
Matching Paint to Metal, Vinyl, and Fiber Cement Siding
In case the material used in the construction of the siding is metal or aluminum, then the paint that should be used must be rust-resistant and flexible. On the other hand, the use of vinyl paint is advisable when it comes to vinyl sidings because otherwise, it leads to warping effects in darker colors. Fiber cement, or hardy board, normally has no problem with ordinary acrylic exterior paint.
Primer: The Step Homeowners Skip Too Often
Not applying primer is by far the most frequent mistake that people make when painting their mobile homes. It is one simple step that impacts both the way your paint looks and its longevity.
When Primer Is Non-Negotiable
Primer is absolutely required when painting over any kind of bare metal, wood, or even a repaired area. Primer is also a requirement when moving from a darker color paint to a lighter one. If your siding has not had its paint refreshed within the last five years, primer is recommended in order to ensure that the new paint will adhere to the old one. Failing to use primer on older siding can result in poor color coverage and peeling.
Choosing the Right Primer by Surface
Metal siding requires the application of rust preventive primer, either oil or acrylic, after any rusted areas have been addressed. Vinyl VOG paneling, found on the interiors of most manufactured homes, requires a bonding primer because of the lack of adhesion by regular paint to the vinyl material. Using the proper primer for your specific siding instead of using an all-purpose primer makes a significant difference. This is one of the fastest ways to have your paint peel in a year’s time.
Preparing Your Mobile Home Before Painting
Paint quality only goes so far without proper surface preparation beforehand. Rushing this stage undermines even the best paint for exterior mobile home projects.
Cleaning, Sanding, and Patch Repairs
Begin with a deep pressure cleaning to get rid of all dirt, mildew, and chalk from the old paint job. Sand areas that are not smooth in order to achieve a good base on which to apply the new paint. Fix any cracks or holes before priming since paint will not cover such flaws. Dry everything properly since any moisture will seriously impair the paint’s ability to adhere to the surface. Any attempt to cut corners and skip some of the above procedures to save time will end up being costly in the long run due to early paint degradation. Allow an additional day for the cleaning and drying process.
Checking for Foundation and Leveling Issues
Check to see whether your home has a problem with its foundation with regard to leveling due to erosion or roots before you begin to paint. It is important that this be done before you paint, as it will become much easier to detect a structure that is out of balance when the new paint job draws attention to all uneven lines. It is easy to detect gaps, cracks, and unbalanced skirting during a walk around your house’s perimeter.
Application Methods and Climate Considerations
How you apply paint, and which color you choose, both affect long-term durability. These final decisions round out a successful mobile home exterior project.
Brush and Roller vs Spray Painting
Spraying with a good airless sprayer can paint the complete exterior of a mobile home much quicker compared to brushing or rolling. But spraying needs better masking and technique to prevent any overspray or runny paint. Back-rolling after spraying is always advised by many professionals who use this technique to get an even coat with the help of the roller. Brushing and rolling are a time-consuming process, but it provides better control, which is necessary for beginners who are doing the job for the first time. Whatever technique you use, you should try to paint one side of the mobile home at a stretch to maintain uniformity in the color.
Color Choice and Climate-Specific Durability
Do not paint light colored vinyl siding in a much darker color because heat absorption might cause the material to warp. Test the effect of the new paint color on a small area that is less noticeable first, and check for any signs of warping. If you live in hot and/or rainy areas, make sure to use paint that provides good protection from UV rays and moisture because regular paint will fade quicker, get chalky and even allow mildew growth. Coastal areas also need paint to withstand windy weather conditions.
Conclusion
Selecting the appropriate paint for the exterior surface of your mobile home depends entirely on getting the paint, primer, and preparation process correct for the type of siding you have. Cutting corners to save yourself some time inevitably turns out to be expensive in the long run due to premature peeling or fading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paint do I use for painting a mobile home with vinyl siding?
Choose an acrylic latex paint formulated for vinyl; don’t use extremely dark paints as they absorb heat and may cause the vinyl to warp.
Is it necessary to apply a primer before painting my mobile home?
Sometimes you have to, but only when the surface is metal, has patches, is repainting a very different color, or hasn’t been painted for five years or more.
Which is better – spray painting or painting with a brush and roller?
Spraying is quicker when you’re painting the whole exterior, although brushing and rolling provide more control for beginners.
How long will the paint take to dry on the outside of my mobile home?
Latex paint can dry in 1-6 hours, whereas oil paint takes 8-24 hours between coats.