How to Paint Aluminum
Aluminum is a very popular siding material. While it is very durable, paint doesn't always look the best on aluminum. In fact, if you rub your hand over aluminum siding after only a couple of years, your hand will be left with a chalky residue. This is caused by the oxidation of the aluminum. The paint actually slowly rubs away. Some people think this is a benefit because it cleans itself when it rains. Most, however, see this oxidation for what it is: destruction. With proper painting procedure and maintenance, however, oxidation and destruction of aluminum is minimized. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Add cleaning solution to the power washer and spray every inch of the aluminum. TSP usually works quite well, but any solution will do. Start at the top of the aluminum and work your way down. Stay away from the windows with the pressure washer to avoid damaging window panes.
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Rinse the cleaning solution off by using the pressure washer again, with only water this time. You want every bit of the TSP or cleaning solution rinsed away from the aluminum. Typically, the best type of power washer is one with 3000 psi.
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Let the aluminum dry in the sun for 2 full days. This is extremely important. It may not appear to need much more than a couple of hours, but aluminum truly needs a couple of days to dry.
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Mix paint thinner with a quality oil-based primer. Typically, the right combination is 1 pint of thinner to 1 gallon of primer. This will create a layer between the aluminum and the ammonia in the latex paint. When ammonia meets with aluminum, it forms a gas through a chemical reaction. This gas creates air bubbles and destruction. The oil-based primer keeps the ammonia in the latex paint and the aluminum separate.
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Wait for the primer to dry before painting the aluminum with your desired color. Depending on the brand of paint, it could take one coat or two. Read the instructions on the paint label. The easiest way to paint the outside of a building is with an air gun.
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Tips & Warnings
It is best to wait until there is no rain in the forecast before beginning this process from washing to painting.
Don't be concerned if old paint peels due to the pressure washer.
