ALUMINUM SIDING

Most people are unaware that weathered aluminum siding is an excellent surface for painting. A new coat of paint allows the home or building owner to change the color of the siding and to revitalize a dingy and dull appearance, while avoiding the substantial expense of re-siding.

Weathered aluminum siding frequently suffers from excessive chalking. As a result, it is important that you prepare the surface properly. Remove chalk by power washing, or hand-scrubbing, followed by a thorough rinsing. It is often difficult to remove all of the chalk from this substrate. If the surface is still chalky after two washings, apply an exterior high quality 100% acrylic primer.

Any white oxide on the aluminum should be removed with a non-metallic scouring pad. Prime any bare aluminum with a latex corrosion-inhibitive primer recommended for exterior aluminum.

For the paint itself, a quality 100% acrylic flat or satin paint will perform well. Because of the stability of the surface, this type of paint, properly applied, will last.

The condition of the siding will often dictate what level of sheen to use. If the siding is dented, a flat finish is a good choice because it will help make dents and other surface imperfections less noticeable.

If the siding is in good condition, a satin finish will work well and give the siding a rich, lustrous appearance, much like new factory-finished aluminum siding. A semigloss or gloss paint offers superior adhesion and durability, but accentuates any irregularities in the siding.

As for applying the paint, spray application gives the best appearance on this substrate. However, brush or roller application can give acceptable results also.

VINYL SIDING

People often question the idea of painting vinyl siding. After all, vinyl siding is “maintenance free,” and “vinyl is final!” However, not only can painting vinyl siding make a lot of sense, it can also represent significant potential for the contractor.
While more and more homes and commercial buildings are being retrofitted from wood siding and aluminum siding to vinyl siding, this does not mean that the square footage is being lost as a paintable surface. Here are points to remember about painting vinyl siding:

Freshening the Appearance – Vinyl siding does deteriorate to a degree as it is exposed to the elements. It will chalk and thus fade, particularly on sunny, southern exposures. A quality paint job will make it look as good as new.

Changing the Color – People are not always conscious of this benefit of painting. A home or building owner does not have to live with the original color. A quality paint job offers the opportunity to change the color.

Color Choice – Vinyl siding tends to buckle and warp if it gets too hot. This warping can be irreversible and ruin the siding. The heat absorbed from sunshine by a dark color is enough to cause this to occur. This is why vinyl siding is generally not available in dark colors.

When painting vinyl siding, a good rule of thumb is to paint the siding no darker than its original color. White, off-white and light pastels are generally appropriate.

Surface Preparation – Vinyl siding is one of the easiest surfaces to prepare for paint. Simply remove any dirt or chalk by scrubbing and rinsing or by power washing with plain water. If any mildew is present, remove it with a bleach-and-water solution and rinse. Priming is not generally required with use of a quality exterior latex paint.

Paint Choice – Quality exterior 100% acrylic latex paints adhere well to weathered vinyl siding, given good surface preparation. A satin finish will provide a crisp “new-siding” appearance.

Note: Oil-based paints should not be used on vinyl siding.

Excessive warping (oil canning) seen with dark colored paint on vinyl siding.