For truly greasy or dirty aluminum siding or other outdoor pieces use a commercial degreaser in the power washer or sprayed on the surface to ensure it is as clean as possible and ready to take on primer and paint.
Best way to paint aluminum siding on a house.
Only use acrylic based paint designated for outdoor use.
Steps for painting aluminum siding.
Start painting at the top and work your way down.
It is important to use 100 acrylic paint on top of an oil based primer for the most even and long lasting coverage.
Check the label to be sure it s recommended for metal siding.
The best way to get this siding clean is to power wash it.
Before you paint aluminum siding clean the surface thoroughly and prime the siding with one coat of acrylic primer.
You may want to tint the primer with a lighter hue of the finish color for easier color application.
Use a magnet to determine if your siding is steel versus aluminum because magnet will stick to an steel siding but not aluminum.
The average cost of paint for aluminum siding is 46 per gallon.
The key to painting aluminum siding is preparation and priming.
Then paint with two coats of acrylic paint.
A finish with gloss can draw more attention to dents or other blemishes in the siding.
Add one pint of paint thinner to the gallon of oil based metal primer paint.
As you go smooth.
Try tapping on the siding because aluminum sounds hollow and lightly metallic.
The key to painting aluminum siding is to get it really clean and to use 100 percent acrylic latex paint.
Exterior acrylic latex paint works best on aluminum siding.
A flat or satin finish paint is ideal for your aluminum siding.
Since the oil paint does not cause a reaction with the siding this paint will act as a barrier between the aluminum and the acrylic finish paint.
The cost of paint per square foot is about 0 20.
In a nutshell you need to start with a clean palette.
For indoor projects clean the aluminum by hand with a scrub brush and a spray bottle of degreaser.
Choose a paint recommended for metal.
All of the chalkiness must be washed and scrubbed off and any flaking paint removed.
Once everything is clean and dry you re ready to apply your primer.
Expect to pay the premium for good paint.