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Avoid Problems Painting Aluminum and Vinyl Siding
by Robert Clarke
http://www.contractorsusa.info/
Anyone with older aluminum siding is well aware of the
paint chalking problem. Just rub your hand along the old
siding and the chalky old paint will be all over your palm.
Trying to get paint to stick to this could be a real
problem. This is due to oxidation of the paint. Siding
manufacturers originally referred to this problem as
a "benefit". They called it, "self cleaning", as the paint
literally washed off the house.
Older vinyl siding is also a problem. UV light fades vinyl
siding over time and the siding becomes very unsightly.
Many unfortunate homeowners and contractors have
experienced the dismay, when they repainted their homes,
only to find the new paint peeling off a few months later.
Both problems with older aluminum and vinyl siding can be
overcome with proper cleaning, surface preparation and re-
painting.
Cleaning
You will need to rent a powerful pressure washer with at
least 3000 psi. You will want a pressure washer powerful
enough to remove most of the old chalky paint off the
aluminum siding or, to remove any dirt buildup on the old
vinyl siding.
Start at the top course of siding and work your way down.
You will need to keep the pressure wand fairly close to the
siding surface to effectively remove the old paint. In some
areas, you may find that the paint comes off to the bare
metal. Be careful near windows, corners, soffits and
doorways. The water under pressure, can be forced behind
these areas causing damage. You can add TSP or other
cleaning solutions to the reservoir for mildew, algae or
other grime built up. If you do use a cleaning solution, be
sure to completely rinse it off with your pressure washer.
You should allow your home to dry for several days in dry,
sunny weather before proceeding to the painting process.
If you are repainting vinyl siding or vinyl coated aluminum
siding, you may need a surface de-glosser. This is a
solvent type product used to remove any shine on the
surface and to help your first coat to adhere better. You
will have no trouble finding a good de-glosser at your
local paint supply store.
Application
I like a commercial type airless sprayer. It will draw the
paint directly out of your 5 gallon paint pails, through
the hose and into your spray gun. These are available to
rent at many tool rental locations and even some paint
supply stores that supply contractors. If your paint is
real high quality latex, it will be thicker than regular
latex paint and will require a more powerful airless
sprayer.
Priming
This step is equally as critical as the step above.
Actually, the cleaning and surface preparation phases will
make or break the results of your project.
I like a latex paint additive called emulsa-bond for the
first coat. Emulsa-bond is a bonding agent you will add to
the first coat of paint or primer, to help it to bond to
the old siding.
I buy the best grade exterior latex paint, rather than oil
or other solvent based paint. Latex paint seems to keep up
with the expansion and contraction of the siding very well.
The high quality latex paint I buy needs no primer. I add
the bonding agent directly into the first color coat. Check
with your paint supplier whether or not to use a primer.
The rule of thumb is, when in doubt, use a primer. If you
use a primer, add the bonding agent into it before
applying. There are also bonding agents available for oil
or other solvent based paints. One type is called penetrol.
These are usually available at a painting contractor supply
store.
Many contractors will spot prime areas, especially where
bare metal is exposed. I don't like spot priming because it
can lead to an uneven looking top coat. When I put a primer
coat on, I prime the entire home. This gives a uniform
surface finish later on.
Finish Coat
Your top coat will be color only. You should check with
your paint manufacturer to see if you need one or two top
coats after the base coat. Like I mentioned above, buy the
highest quality exterior paint.
In Conclusion
Proper cleaning and surface preparation are the two main
ingredients to a successful painting job. A bonding agent
in the first coat is also very critical to avoid paint
peeling off later on. Using these techniques, I've re-
painted homes that have lasted far longer than the original
factory applied finish.
ARTICLE REPRINT PERMISSION
You may reprint the above article in your electronic or
print newsletter; however, please include my byline and bio
and keep the article intact. I retain all copyrights.
About The Author
Robert Clarke has operated home improvement companies over
the last 30 years. He is the owner of ContractorsUSA,Inc, a
nationwide contractor referral service at
http://www.contractorsusa.info/ . Get more information
about aluminum and vinyl siding at
http://www.contractorsusa.info/install-vinyl-siding.html
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