Painting your aluminum siding can breathe new life into the outdated exterior of your home while increasing its value and curb appeal.
A lot of homes in the Grand Rapids area (and across the country) count on aluminum siding because it provides excellent insulation, moisture proofing qualities, and resistance to cold climates.
From our experience, aluminum siding is extremely durable and can last up to 40 years. However, it's best to have it repainted every 5-10 years.
In this blog, we're going to break down the three-step process we follow when painting aluminum siding.
Step 1: Repair
Despite its durability, aluminum siding is still susceptible to dents and dings here and there. No amount of paint will cover up damage to aluminum siding. If you notice paint peeling, scrape it away so the siding is smooth.
If this is the case, you're in good hands since aluminum siding is fairly straight forward to replace.
Step 2: Prepare
Starting from a clean slate allows for the primer and paint to stick better to the aluminum. Over time, you may notice that dirt and grime collect on the surface of your siding. The best way to clean aluminum siding is by power washing. You can also use a mixture of TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) and water. When you're done, rinse the siding with clean water and let it dry completely before moving onto the next step.
Next, you'll want to protect the area surrounding the siding like plants and walkways by placing a drop cloth. This will protect from any paint or primer spills.
Step 3: Paint
It's important you only use 100-percent acrylic latex paint. One gallon typically covers between 250-400 square feet and costs between $35- $70. Because of the price, painting your aluminum siding is one of the most cost-effective home improvement strategies out there compared to installing new vinyl siding.
You'll also want to choose your day carefully. Of course, you don't want to paint during rainy or windy days. When we first started painting, the general rule was that latex paint cannot cure unless the temperature is above 50 degrees. Nowadays, modern paint are able to go down to as low as 35 degrees.
You can apply the paint with either a brush or a roller. Brushes work best for tight corners and trim. Professionals will often use sprayers to get an Evan finish.
