Repainting Aluminum Siding

Q. We distribute aluminum siding. Although most of the product is white, we handle other colors. Sometimes, we are asked to supply more pieces of siding in a particular color than we have in our warehouse. We would like to paint white siding in the appropriate color to fill the order. We have a custom coater nearby who will do the painting. What can we tell him?

Another problem is repainting weathered siding. We get questions from home owners and installers about repainting old siding. We would rather have them buy new siding, but the customer is always right. What can we tell them? L. P.

 

A. Aluminum siding is made from coil coated stock that has been slit and roll formed. It is coated with a paint containing a slip agent on its surface to protect it from damage during manufacture, shipping and installation. The slip agent must be removed before repainting. The custom coater can handle this for you.

Repainting weathered siding presents another problem. The chalky byproducts of weathering and surface dirt must be removed before repainting. Power washing or scrubbing with an aqueous solution of trisodium phosphate (TCP) and rinsing will remove the chalky weathering byproducts and surface dirt.

In 1950, my Uncle Bill had a “tin man” apply aluminum siding on his home. By 1975, the aluminum was showing through the paint and the “tin man” was gone. I recommended scrubbing with an aqueous solution of TCP and rinsing. Then, I recommended repainting with an alkyd modified acrylic house paint. Now, Uncle Bill is gone but the siding still looks good. Once the siding is prepared, any house paint can be used.