Paint aluminium siding?

[KMinAF]

After 30 years the aluminum siding is looking a little faded. Has anyone successfully painted aluminum siding? My concern is going through all the careful prep work only to have it fade or worse start peeling after a couple of years and end up looking worse than it does now.

 

[rodm1]

It will fade but you can paint it and if done right won't peel. We used Glidden Evermore Exterior 100% Acrylic Latex Satin from HD.

 

[astroracer]

A power washer and some TSP will get you a clean, paintable surface. It's a lot of work and you will be repainting again just like a regular wood siding. It may be advisable to get a quote for new siding as you are pricing out the paint and figuring in upkeep on the old aluminum...
Mark

 

[mypov]

There's no reason for the new paint not to last as long as the old paint, or longer with the quality of paint these days. Just make sure you buy good quality paint, rated for its purpose of exterior paint... Aluminum siding is a little more maintenance, but I think it is twice the product of vinyl. Does not look as flashy, but it doesn't melt or throw the heat that vinyl does.

 

[Architorture]

if it hasn't been painted with latex previously, i would recommend using an oil-based primer for starters...latex paints sometimes contain ammonia which will react with the aluminum leading to earlier failure...then sand the primer so the finish coats of latex will stick to it.

 

[Bob-B]

Yes, you can paint aluminum siding. Mine was painted over 15 years ago and did not peel. It was primed with a tinted primer, then given 2 coats of latex. All Benjamin-Moore products were used. Yes, it's now faded, but has not peeled.

 

[BigMike782]

Clean,dull and dry then have at it.

 

[toolmiser]

We did ours about 15 years ago. Went to Sherwin Williams and didn't cheap out on the paint. Pressure washed and hand washed with TSP. Dad and I did two coats with a brush, and made real sure we got it under the laps and seams. It looked nice for the 7 years we had it like that till removal for big remodel. Neighbor had his sprayed a year ago, but it was warm (of course) but we are in Wisconsin, and when it contracts in the winter, every seam shows the previous color.

 

[bczygan]

Here in Detroit we don't worry about paint fading on aluminum siding.

Scrappers will steal it off your house long before any fading can occur.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

There's no reason for the new paint not to last as long as the old paint, or longer with the quality of paint these days. Just make sure you buy good quality paint, rated for its purpose of exterior paint...

Correct. My neighbor painted his siding with a special paint for aluminum siding that had a 25 year guarantee, same as his original siding. He put vinyl on it about 15 years later, for whatever reason, but it still looked new. Guess he got tired of the color or size.

 

[djjsr]

if it hasn't been painted with latex previously, i would recommend using an oil-based primer for starters...latex paints sometimes contain ammonia which will react with the aluminum leading to earlier failure...then sand the primer so the finish coats of latex will stick to it.

Sand the whole house?
Not me.

There's some great latex paints available these days that will bond very well to aluminum siding and the only prep would be to wash off the chalking. Check Sherwin Williams or Dutchboy Maxbond.

 

[Architorture]

Sand the whole house?
Not me.

There's some great latex paints available these days that will bond very well to aluminum siding and the only prep would be to wash off the chalking. Check Sherwin Williams or Dutchboy Maxbond.

you are already going over the whole house a few times with a brush...what is one more pass to roughen up the surface if it will make the paint last several years longer.

 

[Just Primer]

Talk to the Sherwin Williams paint rep. Pressure wash and use A-100. If possible spray a light coat, don't brush it. Or hire a paint contractor. An airless is not as easy as it looks the first time. We used to install aluminum around door casings and paint it all the time, as well as paint the gutters to match. They last as about as long as the aluminum finish does IMO.