How to Repaint Aluminum Siding

Time and the elements can fade aluminum's painted finish. Rub your hand along the siding to detect the chalking of old paint from oxidation. Repainting aluminum siding can freshen the look of your house while saving the expense of a complete replacement.

Things You'll Need

• Power washer
• Cleaning solution
• Scrub brush
• Extension
• Cleaning unit
• Garden hose
• Bucket
• Ladder
• Airless paint sprayer
• Wide paintbrush
• Roller
• Metal primer
• Acrylic latex paint
• Bonding agent
• Masking material

Instructions

Clean Aluminum Siding With a Power Washer

1. Rent or buy a power washer and aluminum cleaning solution from a local rental shop or home improvement center.

2. Clean the aluminum siding with a low-flow setting on the power washer. Follow the directions for the washer. High settings can remove paint or damage the panels. Always test in a small area first.

3. Add cleaning solution to the washer's reservoir.

4. Spray from top to bottom. Keep the pressure wand close enough to do the job.

5. Rinse off the solution completely. Look over the siding to ensure you removed the grime and the old oxidized residue.

6. Let the siding dry, preferably during sunny weather. This might take 2 days.

Clean Aluminum Siding With a Brush

1. Buy a scrub brush with an extension for hand-cleaning or a spray-cleaning unit that attaches to a garden hose.

2. Fill a bucket with a cleaning solution or the hose unit with the proper soap.

3. Brush clean the aluminum siding from top to bottom. For higher homes, use a ladder to hand-clean.

4. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 of the previous section after cleaning.

Repaint Aluminum Siding

1. Decide whether you will use the airless spray painter or the wide paintbrush and roller with an extension. If you're spraying, you'll need a 5-gallon paint pail.

2. Purchase a thinned metal primer with a bonding agent added and 100 percent acrylic latex paint. Some painters skip the metal primer when repainting with a quality acrylic latex paint. The first coat of the latex paint serves as a primer if you add a bonding agent to it.

3. Mask any exposed areas such as windows, doors, frames, wood trim and gutters with plastic and painter's tape.

4. Mix paint in the pail and apply the sprayer. Read directions for use.

5. Paint the primer across the long direction of the siding. Start at the top, then let dry when finished. Follow instructions for cleaning the sprayer.

6. Apply the acrylic latex paint within 2 days of priming. Clean the rush, roller or spray painter after use.

Tips & Warnings

• Repair dents and scratches with a metal filler. Read directions for application.

• Avoid pointing high-pressure washers at corners, doorways and windows. Wash these areas with a brush.