Steps to Maintaining Your Aluminum Siding

While aluminum siding is virtually maintenance-free, you can take a few steps to ensure it looks nice and lasts a long time.

Clean your siding once a year and repaint it as necessary. It might be time to repaint your aluminum siding when you notice chalking, or oxidation, which is the result of weathering. Chalking isn't preventable on aluminum siding, but it can be removed.

When it's time to paint your aluminum siding, remember these steps:

Aluminum siding should be sanded with a fine-grit paper.
Using a metal primer is best for bare aluminum. Spray painting offers the best results. If necessary, patch your aluminum with filler especially made for metal.

Aluminum, while it does offer the benefit of better insulation than vinyl, does dent. Pushing the damaged part out can fix some dents, but in other cases, the panel needs to be replaced and typically, the panels above and below the damage are replaced also.

Cleaning aluminum siding

A good hose or pressure washer can make your aluminum siding look like new if you tend to it annually. Mix together 1/3 of a cup of laundry detergent with six gallons of water and you've got yourself a cleaning solution that will wash away most dirt and grime. When using a pressure washer, though, make sure you're using low pressure or the aluminum will dent. Using a soft-bristled brush, clean your siding well, then hose off.

Prepare your surroundings first:

Turn off all power to the outside lights that may get wet.
Remove any items that may get in the way.
Ensure that all your windows are closed and spray away from doors and windows.
If you have shrubbery or flowers below, make sure you cover them with plastic so no cleaning solution drips on them.
Start at the top and work your way down.
Be sure to rinse your cleaning solution off the siding before it dries.

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