Can I Stain or Paint Composite Cladding?
Yes, you can stain or paint your composite cladding if you want to. Now you are wondering why you should paint or stain your composite cladding. Composite materials like cladding and decking are durable materials that require little maintenance.
Since it is made of synthetic materials which in this case are wood fibre and plastic, composite cladding is more robust than wood. Also, they are more durable than wood cladding boards.
Furthermore, the fact that composite cladding is durable means that they will last longer than wood. And when you use composite cladding to cover your house, the colour of the cladding will not fade like wood cladding.
The composite cladding has an improved surface that can resist elements of nature like the sun’s UV rays. Now, why should you paint or stain your composite cladding since it is a durable material with improved fade resistance?
Exposing your cladding to the rays of the sun for a long time might make it lose its bright colour. It usually occurs after using it for a long time. Or, kids might write things with coloured chalk on your cladding. Also, you might scratch your cladding by accident.
This scratch might distort the surface of your composite cladding to the point that covering it will not be easy. Mould and mildew can even grow in the scratched spot when they soak water.
It will further make things worse for your composite cladding. When all or one of these things happens, then you might have to maintain your composite cladding to restore the colour.
Painting or Staining Your Cladding
Painting or staining your composite cladding is easy. Note that there is a difference between painting and staining. Although painting and staining require the same process, painting involves using high-quality latex paint, while staining involves using stain.
Also, the paint sits on top of your composite cladding, while stain soaks into your composite cladding. So, this implies that your composite cladding will absorb the stain.
How to Stain Your Composite Cladding
Step One – Remove Objects Close to Your Cladding
Removing objects close to your cladding is the first thing to do when you want to restore the surface of your composite cladding. If you put tables and chairs close to your cladding you should remove them.
If you plant flowers close to your garden, you should remove the flowers. Also, if your cladding faces your garden, then you might want to cover anything you don’t want the stain or paint to spill on it.
Step Two – Clean Your Cladding
Cleaning your cladding is the next thing to do after removing objects near it. The way you wash your cladding depends on the stain you want to remove. If you want to remove mould or mildew, then you need a soft brush and soapy water. Scrub your cladding gently until you are sure that you have removed the mould.
After scrubbing, rinse the surface with water until the soap is gone. If it is dirt you want to remove, then you can use a hose to powerwash your cladding.
Step Three – Apply the Stain
After cleaning your cladding, then you should start applying the stain on the cladding. First, make sure the stain is a high-quality stain that will soak into your plastic wood cladding well. Then, you should pour the stain into a large bucket and use a roller to apply it to the cladding.
Please add a long piece of wood to the roller so that it will be longer and so that painting will be more comfortable. Apply the stain along the grain and the length of the cladding board. Do it until you have achieved your intended result.
Step Four – Tidy the Surrounding
It would help if you tidied the surrounding after staining your cladding. Make sure you return what you removed to the right place.
How to Paint Your Composite Cladding
The process of painting your composite cladding is similar to staining it.
Step One – Remove Objects Close to the Cladding
You must remove objects close to your cladding so that paint will not spill on them. If you can’t remove the items, then you can cover them with clothes.
Step Two – Clean Your Cladding
It would help if you cleaned your cladding with soapy water and a soft brush to remove dirt, oil or grease from the surface. After, you must rinse the surface thoroughly until the soapy water is removed.
Step Three – Apply the Paint
Make sure the paint you want to apply is a high-quality latex paint that can resist the high foot traffic. Apply the paint board by board along the grain of the composite cladding.
Step Four – Tidy the Surrounding
Make sure you keep the surroundings clean after you have finished painting.
Conclusion
You can stain or paint your composite cladding if it is badly scratched or if you want to restore the colour. Make sure you use high-quality latex paint for the task.