Oil Or Latex Paint For Aluminum Siding

Less likely than oil based paint to crack or peel.

Oil or latex paint for aluminum siding.

Painting aluminum siding is best with oil based paint and a good acrylic metal primer. Also called latex paint or acrylic paint. Oil based paint oil based paint creates a stronger and more durable finish making it an excellent choice for exterior paint projects. Add one pint of paint thinner to the gallon of oil based metal primer paint.

3 choose the right paint. While you can use either oil based primer tends to work better on aluminum. 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.

Avoid latex primer since it generally contains ammonia which reacts over time with aluminum to form microscopic gas bubbles and can lead to premature failure of the primer removing the paint from the surface or the siding. With painter s tape and lengths of plastic sheeting protect items and areas adjacent to the siding. The key to painting aluminum siding is to get it really clean and to use 100 percent acrylic latex paint. Select a paint meant for aluminum that s acrylic exterior grade paint.

Latex paint by nature is very elastic so you end up with an elastic coating with gas bubbles underneath it. The paint you choose should also be compatible with the material you re painting. Once you have completed the paint job remember to remove the tape. Look here for tips on choosing the best paint for aluminum siding.

Putting oil paint over latex often causes bubbling and peeling as the solvents in oil paint melt the latex. Prep aluminum siding well before using paint or primer. 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. Latex primer can cause a chemical reaction with the aluminum that forms small gas bubbles.

Acrylic paint is durable and long lasting and is best for use on siding wood fiber cement or aluminum stucco plaster drywall and porch floors. Ammonia has a chemical reaction to aluminum which produces a tiny amount of gas. Or you could wash it by hand with tsp or a similar product available at home centers and paint stores and rinse it thoroughly. Expect to pay the premium for good paint.

Most latex paint has ammonia in it and that includes primer. You may want to tint the primer with a lighter hue of the finish color for easier color application. Choose a primer made for metal for the best results. Have you ever wondered if you can paint aluminum siding.

This is probably the worst thing you can do when painting aluminum siding.