Aluminum Siding: The durable, low maintenance alternative

Aluminum siding was "discovered" in 1947 when war veteran Jerome Kaufman noticed that paint bonded well to metal war planes. request no obligation prices »

Today the world's number one producer of aluminum siding is Alcoa. Other widely recognized manufacturers include, Alsco, Revere, Reynolds and Gentek Building Products. The siding itself is available in a wide array of textures and colors, and–perhaps because of its similarity to vinyl–is widely popular with homeowners.

Aluminum siding has been called a "precursor" to vinyl and was actually the first "imitation wood" siding. Like vinyl it is made in long planks that fit easily together. It is a little more difficult to handle than vinyl and can be easily dented until you get it in place. Once installed, however, it is sturdy and long lasting. Because it is metal, you will need to paint it occasionally, but when applied to clean siding, the paint adheres easily.

Aluminum siding can be dented once installed, but, unlike damaged wood which would require the replacement of a large area of siding, aluminum can be easily repaired. You may be able to pull out a small dent, and you can repair a larger one simply by replacing a small area surrounding and including the dent. You don't always need to replace the entire panel.

You should maintain your aluminum siding by annually hosing it off and by cleaning any surface stains, such as grass stains, with a non-abrasive cleaner. When needed, you should refinish it with a paint recommended by the manufacturer. Unlike wood, it won't rot or burn, and it is impervious to termites. It's different from vinyl, in that it won't blister, but in certain climates it can corrode. Your local supplier can tell you how to prevent corrosion if that is a problem in your area.

Professional builders say that when the time comes to paint your aluminum siding, you should stay away from latex primers. Latex paints and primers contain ammonia which creates tiny gas bubbles when it comes in contact with oxidized aluminum. These bubbles will make it harder for your paint to stick, which will ultimately result in the need for another paint job sooner than you would expect. Instead, you should use a thinned, oil-base priming paint–if your siding is weathered and needs to be primed first. In any case, make sure you apply the primer or paint to a clean, dry surface.

Within 48 hours of the time the primer has been applied, you should apply the paint. This should be a 100 percent acrylic latex exterior house paint containing a high volume of acrylic paint resin. The more resin, the longer the paint will last. It will be more expensive, but a higher quality paint will save time and money that will more than pay for itself in future years.
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