Aluminum siding is an older type of siding not used as much these days, but was highly used prior to the 1980s. You may still see this type of siding in older neighborhoods, as it is durable—it doesn't crack easily as vinyl. If you have this type of siding and don't like the color or just want to give it a fresh look, you don't have to replace the siding. You can paint over that aluminum siding; the best part is you can choose any color you want to change the look of your home. See below for tips on how to paint over your siding.
Gather the following tools:
- Power washer
- Oil-based primer
- Paint rollers and brushes
- Exterior acrylic paint (satin or egg shell finish in any color you choose)
- Mineral spirits
- Rags
- Ladder or scaffolding
Instructions:
1. First, you need to power wash the entire house. Start at the top and work your way down and repeat on all sides of your home. You want to get rid of dirt, mold and mildew that may have built up on the house. Hold the power washer at an angle so you don't damage the siding. If you have any areas that are stained, use a siding cleaner to get rid of the stain. Scrub it lightly with a soft bristle brush or a sponge, and be careful not to dent the siding. Allow the siding to dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.
2. Lay out tarps or protective plastic around your home before you begin priming or painting, so you don't get paint splatters anywhere else around your home. Cover anything surrounding your home and move things like patio furniture away from your home while painting.
3. Next, you can begin priming the siding by using the oil-based primer. Begin on one side of the house, working from the top down towards the bottom. Use a ladder to get up high, or rent scaffolding so you aren't constantly going up and down the ladder, as this can get tiresome after painting an entire home. Use a paintbrush to apply the primer to the bottom portion of the siding to get into small cracks, then use the rollers to apply the primer to the face of the siding. Allow the primer coating to dry thoroughly, then apply a second coat of primer if necessary.
4. After using the primer, be sure to clean the paintbrushes with mineral spirits, as it is oil-based. Throw out the rollers you used and begin with new ones to paint the house.
5. You can now begin painting the siding with the color you chose. Cut in the paint using paintbrushes, then use the roller to apply paint to the face of the siding. Work from the top and make your way down to the bottom, repeating this for all sides of your home until finished. Allow the first coating to dry, then look your home over. If it requires a second or even third coat, repeat these steps.
If your home is quite large, you may want to think about renting a paint sprayer rather than painting it by hand. Check with a professional painting company to get prices on having your home painted by companies like Stetson Painting LLC, as this can be quite a job.
