When residential aluminum siding was first invented in 1947, it represented a giant leap forward in ease of maintenance for the average homeowner. Before that point, a wooden façade was the most common option. The downside of using wood was the constant maintenance required to keep it in good repair. Moisture could cause the siding to swell and contract making nails come loose. Infestation with termites and other bugs was common, paint peeled and flaked, and rot was a constant threat.

Aluminum changed all this. It is impervious to insects and can’t be damaged by water. However, this type of siding isn’t completely maintenance free. Besides the occasional dent repair, homeowners must repaint their siding after it has been in service 20+ years. The initial paint job will have faded and/or become chalky by this point. It may even be worn away completely in some places.

Prepping and Painting Aluminum Siding

A good power washing is the best way to clean aluminum siding prior to painting. This gets rid of dirt, bird droppings, tree sap, and other types of gunk. Any dents should be fixed during the prep phase. Gutters should be repaired as well.

After this, a coat of primer must be applied. If the previous coat of paint is chalky, a primer that contains oil may be used to provide better adhesion. When there is bare aluminum showing, latex primers that contain ammonia should be avoided. They may cause bubbling as the ingredients interact with the oxidized metal. It’s a good idea to get a professional opinion when choosing a primer since the results will affect how well the paint goes on.

After the primer has dried, apply high quality latex paint. Invest in the best paint you can afford – it will last longer than cheap products. You can use a roller or brush to apply this final coat; but a pressure sprayer offers the smoothest coverage. It does take a skilled hand to minimize overspray with this equipment. If you aren’t experienced with using a compressor and spray gun, it’s a good idea to leave this job to a professional

Related posts:

1. Tips For Painting Vinyl Siding
2. Painting Brick Siding
3. Painting Siding – Spray vs. Brush
4. Vinyl Clad Aluminum Siding
5. Aluminum Siding Dent Repair Tutorial

Tags: Siding

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 at 6:53 pm and is filed under Siding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.