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house has worn and chalky aluminum siding - over 30 years old

2007-08-02 02:36:10 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden Maintenance & Repairs

3 answers

Aluminum siding presents some unique problems, but these can be dealt with by using the proper products and procedures.

First problem is the chalking. This needs to come off. Avoid using bleach, absolutely no ammonia on aluminum. Tri-sodium phosphate, 1 cup per gallon. Start at the top, scrub a bit and rinse well. You always need to clean before painting, it is especially important here.

The second problem is with the paint itself. You will want a good acrylic latex with a low sheen -- flat, satin or eggshell finish. Many latex paints contain ammonia as a stabilizer, ammonia does not like aluminum. If there are any bare spots or even just very thin original paint, the new paint will bubble and wrinkle up and fall off. Also the surface is very hard, it is difficult for any paint to adhere well.

You need a special primer to overcome this. There are several brands, it will be labeled as a primer for aluminum, sometimes galvanized surfaces as well. You will probably need to find a paint store or at least a good paint department to get it. Very thin and runny, smells bad but it does work very well. Read the directions, you must put the topcoat on while the primer is still a bit damp. You will not be able to prime the whole house and then paint, you will have to prime a bit and then paint that part.

Do not use a pressure washer for this one. It can dent the siding if you are not careful. At the very least, you will end up with water behind the siding -- the pressure will force water into the seams. This can run out later on your wet paint, not good. Also will not take care of the problem. You need to scrub just a bit to loosen the chalking surface.

2007-08-02 03:54:30 · answer #1 · answered by be_a_lert 6 · 1 0

Clean well and paint with a good latex paint. Do the ends where the corner upright pieces are while it is cool. Aluminum and vinyl expand and contract so if you do it while hot, when it contracts you will see the old paint/color.

2007-08-02 09:44:04 · answer #2 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0 0

pressure wash it first. go to sherwin williams. use pro block primer tinted to 50% of your color. use super paint. that should last you about 15 years!

2007-08-02 10:43:20 · answer #3 · answered by Jack the Toad 6 · 0 0

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