Painting aluminum siding is a great way to give your home exterior a fresh new look. Many people are not aware that there are specialized paints designed to adhere to metal surfaces like aluminum. If you are going to paint metal you must purchase the right paint and primer to achieve fantastic finishes.
Painting Aluminum Siding With a Roller
Gather Your Supplies
Before you can paint your siding, you have to gather the supplies you need. If you do a supply check before you go to buy your paint then you can be assured that you have everything you need before you start the job.
Tools List When Painting with Roller
- A ladder that is tall enough to allow you to reach the uppermost portions of your siding. You may also use a scaffold if the scaffold is tall enough to allow you to reach the uppermost sections of your siding.
- Paint brushes
- Roller and roller cover if you are applying with a roller
- If you are applying with a roller then you will want an extension pole that allows you to reach farther
- Painter’s tape and something to cover window surfaces with such as cardboard or plastic sheeting, possibly even newspaper if you apply it thickly
- Primer
- Paint – NOT a latex
- Paint Tray
- Paint remover or thinner if you are using oil-based paint. You can use mineral spirits or turpentine.
- Clean dry cloths
- Empty bucket to mix paint in.
- Stirring sticks or electric mixer to stir paint.
- Drop cloths for the bushes and shrubbery you want to protect
Preparation of the Surface
The first steps of any paint job are dedicated to the preparation of the surface. You have to clean the surface material of any dirt, grime, or debris. You also have to use sandpaper and sand out really rough patches if you want a truly smooth finish.
If the siding has been previously painted and that paint is starting to peel away you have to scrape off the old paint, then pressure wash the siding before you can apply the new paint. I know this adds a lot of work and time so you can apply the new paint. I know this adds a lot of work and time to our project, but putting new paint over peeling old paint is a recipe for disaster.
Once you have your siding prepped, cleaned, dried, sanded, and ready you can begin the process of painting.
Prime Aluminium Siding
You cannot skip the primer when you are painting. When you are painting aluminum, the primer will help the new paint adhere properly to the surface.
Put the paint in your paint tray and roll the roller over the raised section of the tray to load the paint onto the roller. You want the roller to be covered but do not want an excessive amount of paint on it. Lift the roller head off of the tray and allow the excess to drip before you move the roller towards the siding.
You are going to run the roller along with the siding depending on the position of the material. If your siding is horizontal, you will roll sideways, and if it is positioned vertically then you are going to roll up and down.
Apply even pressure but do not push down on the roller. You may need to climb a ladder to reach the upper portions of the home. You always paint from the top and work your way down to avoid runs or drips that can mess up your pretty paint.
Two thin coats are better than one thick coat. Thin coats dry faster and eliminate many roller marks and messes. Let the primer dry 100% before you try to paint.
Aluminium Siding Paint
Once the primer is dry you are going to paint in the same manner. You want to have a fresh roller cover, or to have washed the roller cover and allowed it to dry before you start to paint.
You want to pay attention to the amount of paint that is being left by the roller. When the coverage starts to lessen you want to dip the roller back into the paint, run it across the ridges in the pan, and let the excess drip off again.
Use light coats of paint so you can get complete coverage that does not run, drip, or have roller marks on it.
Paint Aluminum Siding Using a Paint Sprayer
Tools You Need
- Ladder or scaffold
- Air compressor if your paint gun requires one
- Paint gun
- Painter’s tape and something to cover window surfaces with such as cardboard or plastic sheeting, possibly even newspaper if you apply it thickly
- Primer
- Paint – NOT a latex
- Clean dry cloths
- If you are using an oil-based paint then you need paint thinner or mineral spirits
- Empty bucket to mix paint in.
- Stirring sticks or electric mixer to stir paint.
- Empty bucket to mix paint in.
- Stirring sticks or electric mixer to stir paint.
Prepare the Sprayer for the Primer
Your first concern is to prepare the sprayer to apply the primer. You need to check the viscosity of the paint substance using the viscosity cup that comes with your sprayer. Then you will thin the primer to meet the exact viscosity requirements.
If you are using a water-based primer then you will use water to thin it and if you are using an oil-based substance, use mineral spirits turpentine, or specialized paint thinner to thin the substance. Add thinners in small increments so you do not make the primer too thin.
Do A Test Spray
Never try to apply anything using a spray gun without testing the gun first. When you have your primer loaded, your tip is chosen, and your settings established you want to spray a piece of old cardboard to make sure the paint is flowing properly and you are getting proper coverage.
Read More >> Preventing Spray Paint Chipping on Metal: Tips and Techniques
Spray It With Primer
Once you have determined that the paint is flowing like you want it to do once you have determined that the paint is flowing like you want it to do you can begin to spray the primer onto the surface. Start at the top and work down to the bottom.
Work in sections. You want to spray from one side of your section to the other side in a fluid movement that does not stop until after you pass your imaginary boundary line.
When you go to make your next pass, you want to overlap the paint line by as much as 50%. It is best to aim your sprayer directly at the middle of the last paint line so you will have the perfect amount of overlap.
Spraying applies thinner coats that dry faster so make your sections small enough that you can work and get the paint on before the initial part of the spray starts to dry out.
Read More>> Do you need to prime the wall before painting?
Paint It With Your Base Color
The paint is applied in the exact same manner that the primer is sprayed on the surface. You MUST check the thickness of the paint prior to applying so you can be sure that it flows smoothly from the tip.
Always position the spray gun between 6 and 12 inches from the surface you are spraying. This allows your spray to be consistent and allows more of the paint to come into contact with the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It a Good Idea to Paint Aluminum Siding?
Yes, painting this material is easy, and it allows you to increase your home value and your curb appeal.
Do You Have to Sand Aluminum Siding Before Painting?
If there are any rough spots on the siding you will want to sand the roughness away before you begin to paint. If you do not see any rough spots run your hands over the siding to feel for them. Sometimes roughness can be felt when it cannot be seen. Usually, only light sanding is required.
Can You Power Wash Painted Aluminum Siding?
You can power wash aluminum siding but you need to use a lower power setting and do not blast the water at one area for too long of a time or you might cause disruption or crack in the paint. If the paint is damaged, blistered, or peeling do not power wash because the power washer will break the paint loose.
How Long Does Paint Last on Aluminum Siding?
Paint on aluminum siding will normally last longer than paint on wood or vinyl. Wood expands and contracts so the paint has a higher tendency to crack and peel. Vinyl is difficult to get paint to adhere to. On aluminum, the paint can last up to 10 years without needing a touch-up.
Final Thoughts
Painting your aluminum siding is a great way to breathe new life into your exterior. Be sure to buy the right paint, you need one for metal, and make certain that you wash the surface thoroughly before you start trying to paint.
This is a job that most homeowners have no trouble completing and the finishes they achieve are high-quality and aesthetically pleasing.
If you plan on painting your car, check out our other article on this topic.
