How to Paint Aluminum Siding With Exterior Paint

You can identify painter's tape by its blue color.

Exterior paint is appropriate for aluminum siding as long as the metal is properly prepared prior to application. Because aluminum is nonporous, it cannot absorb the adhesives in paint. You must abrade the siding, or it will reject its new finish. Unfortunately aluminum is too durable for the same friction-based abrasion techniques used to prepare vinyl, plastic and fiberglass. You must apply a special primer with acidic attributes that allow it to etch metallic surfaces.

Things You'll Need

• Pressure washer
• Low-pressure tip
• Professional painter's tape
• Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
• Galvanized metal etching primer
• Roller frame
• Nap roller cover
• Latex paintbrush, 2- to 4-inch
• Acrylic latex exterior paint

Instructions

1. Clean the aluminum siding, using a pressure washer equipped with a low-pressure tip. Wait two to four hours for the aluminum to dry.

2. Cover portions of the aluminum siding you do not want painted with painter's tape. Cover surfaces beneath the siding with heavy-duty fabric drop cloths.

3. Coat the clean aluminum siding with galvanized metal etching primer, using a roller stocked with a nap cover. Smooth the wet etching primer, using a paintbrush manufactured for use with water-based coatings. Wait four hours for the primed siding to dry.

4. Wash the brush with water.

5. Coat the primed aluminum siding with acrylic latex exterior paint. Apply the paint to the aluminum just as you did the primer. Wait two hours for the painted siding to dry. Add one more coat if the etching primer shows through.

Tips & Warnings

• Never paint bare aluminum siding, or the paint will peel.

• Do not use an ordinary acrylic latex or oil-based primer on aluminum siding, or the finish will fail.

Resources

• Popular Mechanics: 5 Pro Painting Tips Every Amateur Should Know