When it comes to siding materials, vinyl may be popular choice these days but metal siding isn’t far behind. Metal’s polished and sleek look make it a favorite for more house designs but the use of metal siding particularly aluminum dates back to the 1930s.

While there are now more options for metal siding such as the more expensive zinc and copper siding, aluminum and steel are still top choices for residential designs. The beauty of metal is that it doesn’t serve to mimic the look of wood, stone or bricks, it has its own aesthetic appeal.  And it is typically low maintenance. 

Metal siding is sustainable, has excellent durability and improves energy efficiency but it’s prone to dents, scratches and overtime the paint will wear out. Fortunately, metal is non-porous and easy to paint over to make it look like new. Here are a few preparations for painting metal siding.

Painting Metal Siding – When is the time right? 

Metal siding even if pre-finished will eventually show signs of wear and tear especially if the house is old. Signs to look out for:

• When the paint starts looking chalky or has a powdery residue when touched
• Peeling, cracking and chipping of previous paint or coating
• Rusting (for steel siding)
• Cracked caulking
• Loss of gloss
• Fading and thinning of color

It’s best to tackle the issue as soon as any of the signs are present especially when you are trying to sell your house.

Prep Your Surface for Painting Metal Siding 

As part of surface preparations, correcting any damages to the existing siding is important. One of the cons of metal siding is that it’s prone to dents. If one of the panels are badly dented, it’s better to replace it than repaint it. Paint won’t disguise a badly dented panel. Other things to look out for are sagging gutters, soffits, drainpipes and loose metal panels. If you’re going to be re-painting your siding, might as well look out for other things that need to be fixed.

The next critical step in painting metal siding is to make sure the surface is clean and free of grease, bird droppings, mildew, caulking, or mold and other debris. The best method for cleaning metal siding is to use a pressure washer. Cleaning metal siding should be done carefully as soft metals like aluminum can easily bend and dent with the incorrect settings for pressure washer.

A good tip in washing metal siding is to spray water downwards in the same way rain hits the house. Washing it with hot water can clean the siding without needing to use bleach or detergent. While pressure washing the exterior of the house can be done by homeowners themselves, it’s best to hire a contractor especially if the siding are extremely dirty.

Check If Your Siding Needs Primer

Priming is necessary if the metal is already exposed, if the surface is severely weathered or if the surface has a chalky feel even after thorough cleaning.

For surfaces that requires priming, check for peeling and cracked paints which need to be sanded prior to painting. Choose primers that are best suited for the type of metal siding that you have while also checking if the primer is compatible with the paint you’re going to use.

Choose a Paint Color

Before painting metal siding, decide on a color for your metal siding. For exterior paint colors, going with safe light colors is better than choosing darker shades. Darker paint colors absorb more heat and can quickly weather your metal siding. Chalking, fading and other discoloration problems are more noticeable with darker colors. Get some samples from your local paint store and swatch it on a small part of your siding to see what the paint color looks like in different times of the day.

Paint finish is also just as important as the paint color. Flat or matte colors can really make your house pop and is perfect for more contemporary and modern houses. It can also hide imperfections like brush strokes and uneven finishes but is difficult to clean and tends to accumulate residue even when scrubbed or brushed. Satin finishes, on the other hand, are easier to clean and will resist stains better than matte paint.

Leave It to The Pros

While painting metal siding can be a DIY project, it’s best to call or hire professional painting contractors to do the job for you. When it comes to exterior works and one as big as painting your house, it’s better to invest in employing the services of professionals rather than go the DIY route.

A good paint job, if done right, will last 20 years, enough time to keep the house in tip-top shape should you ever decide to sell it.

If you’re in Kansas or around the area, Decker Service Professionals has a team of painting contractors that meet all your painting requirements. With over 30 years of experience, our team is committed to providing quality work from start to finish.