Taking care of your aluminum siding

Different people have different opinions about aluminum sidings. Some feel that they are dated while others feel that they are quite pleasing and give a very sleek and sophisticated look. The fact is that aluminum has been around since the 1950s and is still going strong.

Since it is quite robust, it is able to adjust and withstand severe weather conditions. It is also fire retardant and light. Other chemical risks associated with a material like asbestos is also not present with aluminum.
As compared to vinyl sidings however, many contractors and house owners feel that aluminum is a better option due to its easy installation and maintenance. You can maintain it by just regularly power washing it at the right pressure so that there is no accumulation of any dust. Make sure that you use the right pressure or else you can damage the siding. You could test it over a smaller portion first before proceeding to power wash the entire siding.

Aluminum however has the tendency to fade over time and also get dented. It is thus important to maintain it such that it always wears a new look. One sure sign that your aluminum needs maintenance is the appearance of the powdery coating on the surface and this means that it is starting to fade.

One option is painting it with the help of an experienced professional if you can afford the cost. It will certainly give a new look to the siding and you will not require to maintain it for some years. The other option is to do it your self and here you have to know the right process of applying paint. Right from the material to be used to the finishing coat, you must be aware of what will give the siding the best finish. Any lapse in this could result in a very shoddy job and you would have to spend more money to rectify the lapse.

Painting your house sidings

Everybody faces a problem with old sidings, whether they are made of aluminum or vinyl. You want to paint them to spruce them up and make them attractive. However, it is difficult to make the paint adhere to the surface and that is because the paint oxidizes. So you can be faced with a situation where the new paint just starts peeling off and all your efforts go up in smoke.

With vinyl sidings, the problem is due to the UV rays of the sun making it fade and make it look ungainly.
You can overcome these problems with appropriate cleaning, priming the surface and then painting it fresh for a much longer and lasting finish.

Since we have dealt with the cleaning part in an earlier article, let us look at priming.

The procedure of Priming

You need to coat the surface at the beginning with a paint additive that is of latex origin referred to as an emulsabond and this will ensure that the primer or the initial coat of paint is able to fasten itself to the siding effectively. Make sure that you buy the best quality latex paint available and do not make the mistake of opting for oil, solvent based paint. The latex in the paint is able to adjust to the vagaries of the weather very well and does not even need a primer. You can consult your painter about this and if you do need to use a primer, the bonding agent can be used.

You only need to ensure that if you are using a primer, then do not use it piecemeal, but paint the entire surface for a uniform look.

Exterior Coat

Of equal importance is the finish coat and here you must have at least two applications of the best quality exterior paint to go on top of the base coat.
To summarize, proper surface preparation and cleaning will ensure a decent painting finish.