One of the most common questions that painting contractors are often asked by the homeowners is, “Can I paint my aluminum siding, and if so, what is the best method.” Aluminum siding was considered an ideal choice among homeowners until the mid-70s, when the manufacturing costs had significantly increased and vinyl siding took its place as a low cost, low maintenance siding option. The most irritating part about aluminum siding is that there are a couple of problems that are inherent with this type of product. The coating that is baked on the surface actually chalks and fades like crazy.
So what to do when it comes to freshen up the exterior of your home. What about painting the aluminum siding. The good news is that, aluminum siding can be painted, if prepared properly. When the preparation is properly done, paint sticks to the surface very well. Furthermore, painting is cheaper than replacing your old siding.
There are some important steps that should be done in preparation for applying the paint. Under any circumstances, you should not skip the prep part – it will ruin the paint project.
Cleaning the Siding:
The first step to paint your aluminum siding is to remove any chalk and mildew from the surface of the siding. It will help the new coating to properly adhere. The simplest way to check whether your aluminum siding has chalking is by running your hand across the surface of the siding and taking a look at your palm. In case you find chalk in your palm, it’s time to remove the chalk before you paint the surface.
You can buy an aluminum siding cleaning solution from any home improvement store and clean the aluminum surface along with a scrubber or abrasive sponge and some good quality elbow grease. These types of cleaning products are especially made to get rid of the layer of chalk from the surface of your aluminum siding.
Scraping and Sanding the Surface:
You need to make sure that you scrape any loose or peeling areas on your aluminum siding. Once done, you also need to sand the edges with some fine grit sandpaper. It is also important to clean the scraped and sanded areas of any dust by using the above mentioned process and allow to dry.
Applying the Paint:
Once the preparation is done and the surface is dry, you should apply the finish coatings on the surface of your aluminum siding. Typically, high quality paint can directly be applied over aluminum siding without the need for a primer. However, make sure to go through the manufacturer’s instruction before applying paint.
