Paint it all or paint half?

I'm about to paint my 100-year-old white-colored home. Previous owners sided the top, but not the bottom. I'm down to three options:

1. Strip the paint off the bottom and repaint white to match the top. ("easiest")
2. Remove the top siding (a project in itself) and repaint the whole house with a different color scheme. (way hardest)
3. Keep the white vinyl on top and repaint the bottom a different color -- most likely with a historical color pattern. (compromise)

My question: I've seen houses with split colors (no.3), but never with white on top. Is that breaking a big color rule? Can I leave it white on top and paint the bottom a different color -- and make it look nice? Can someone show me some examples if they know of any on the net?

 

Welcome to the forums!

There really isn't any 'color rules' unless you plan on selling or live in a historical district [that dictates the colors that can be used] the paint job only has to please you and yours.

There is no reason you can't use a color on the bottom half although it will look best if it ties in someway with the rest of the house. Coordinate with trim or shutter color or maybe pick up a color that is in the roofing. I don't know of any internet examples .... but some of the others might

 

There are programs available where you can upload a photo and then manipulate the colors digitally to find what you like.

That said, I'm with Mark that there are any 'rule's for this, it's personal preference.

 

Yes, those are pretty cool. I've tried a few of them. I'm also considering painting the vinyl siding on top vs. removing it. I'm learning if I clean the siding well, use an acrylic paint, and choose a paint with a high Light Reflective Value, it should work.

In the meantime, I'll be keeping busy scraping the bottom half of the house. So, there's plenty of time to consider color options. I've been using the Silent Paint Remover, which uses infrared heat to remove the paint. That's been working pretty well. Slow. But well. Thanks for the response.

 

If you decide to paint the vinyl, many paint manufactures have a vinyl safe additive that can be added to latex paint to help you get around the color issue.

Have you had the paint you are removing tested to make sure it isn't lead based? There are precautions you need to take if it is. New regs were instituted a year or so ago although I think there is more leeway for homeowners.

 

My house was built in 1921, and was originally painted white, top to bottom. At some point, the owners left the top half (cedar shakes) white but painted the bottom half (wood siding) gray.