How to Paint Aluminum Siding | |
Metal siding such as aluminum or steel is touted as being maintenance free, i.e., "never" needing painting. Aluminum siding of itself is corrosion-free, but the paint coating will degrade in time. Aluminum siding finish is usually warranted for 20 years or more, but the day will come when the siding will need repainting. Most premium-quality acrylic latex house paints are also recommended for use on aluminum siding: check the label to be sure before selecting any particular product. Pittsburgh Paint, for example, not only recommends their exterior latex for use on aluminum, they also offer a full range of original siding colors, so you can repaint the siding in the exact same color as the original, if you wish. But first, use DEKSWOOD cleaner to clean away dulled and chalked paint from the siding. Follow label directions for application of the cleaner. The result may be a dull but clean siding finish. If the siding is clean but dull, and the old paint film is intact, try clearcoating the aluminum siding, using another Flood Company product called Penetrol (call 800-321-3444 if you can't locate these products). I tried this technique on my own aluminum siding and the results were remarkable. At worst, the Penetrol will make a good base coat for applying a new coat of paint. If only paint will renew your siding, use any major brand of acrylic latex paint, applied as per label instructions. written by Gary Branson Reprinted with permission. Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |