Trying to paint aluminum siding?

[Chubsnub]

Am attempting to paint aluminum siding and I am trying to find out what is the safest and most effective way of trying to remove the chalk off the siding prepping it for paint. and what paint would be recommended. Thanks in advance.

[stman]

Am attempting to paint aluminum siding and I am trying to find out what is the safest and most effective way of trying to remove the chalk off the siding prepping it for paint. and what paint would be recommended. Thanks in advance.

This should help.


http://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Aluminum-Siding

[jeffnez]

i used car wash soap with a scrub brush on a pole to wash the house.the next day i used a good latex exterior paint.the paint has been on just over 10 years now with no flaking but i can notice some fading from sun.

[StanW]

I painted my house and 2 story alujminum clad boathouse about 7 years ago . Washed both with tsp ( compressed air attachment) and painted with my air gun using good quality exterior latex paint ,

After 7 years looks like the day I painted .

[Chubsnub]

Car wash soap. perfect!! have read about using acid based solutions for best results but there are gardens below the siding and I have dogs so was a little leary on using that kind of product obviously for the dogs safety and mine if I wrecked my wife's flower beds. still no flaking after 10 years jeffnez the car wash soap worked well at getting the chalk removed, Thanks

[Chubsnub]

I painted my house and 2 story alujminum clad boathouse about 7 years ago . Washed both with tsp ( compressed air attachment) and painted with my air gun using good quality exterior latex paint ,

After 7 years looks like the day I painted .


The TSP is it a acid based product that could wreck a flower bed do you know? and also StanW the exterior latex paint you used with a sprayer did the paint spray seem to travel far from were you were painting in the air? painting the neighbors house and or car would not be good. the wikihow link stman posted suggested a foam roller.

[Terryl]

TSP or Tri-Sodium Phosphate will kill your plants if not diluted properly, (it would be too weak to clean anything) it is a very powerful cleanser.

Any soap or detergent that has a low phosphate bio-degradable label or is safe for water recycling can be used around your plants, look for one that can be used on your lawn. (good place to wash the car, it saves the water)

As far as the painting, the best one to ask on this site would be our very own Torpainter.

[Chubsnub]

TSP or Tri-Sodium Phosphate will kill your plants if not diluted properly, (it would be too weak to clean anything) it is a very powerful cleanser.

Any soap or detergent that has a low phosphate bio-degradable label or is safe for water recycling can be used around your plants, look for one that can be used on your lawn. (good place to wash the car, it saves the water)

As far as the painting, the best one to ask on this site would be our very own Torpainter.


That is what I will look for Terrl it will save a divorce also , Thanks everyone for your suggestions now to put this information into action

[StanW]

The TSP is it a acid based product that could wreck a flower bed do you know? and also StanW the exterior latex paint you used with a sprayer did the paint spray seem to travel far from were you were painting in the air? painting the neighbors house and or car would not be good. the wikihow link stman posted suggested a foam roller.
In my case I did not have to worry about flower beds :D .... the paint I used was made by Sico - covered approx 400 sq ft per gallon - absolutely no airborne paint particles if the paint gun is adjusted correctly and the proper air pressure is used . Painting with an airgun is fast - half hour or less per gallon - and the finish is hard to beat .... masking and moving the scaffolding was pita tho .lol

[torpainter]

washing with tsp is good but it is supposed to get a water rinse after

Dont spray on a windy day ,paint can travel a quarter mile easliy...lol

[torpainter]

lots of good paints on the market
Most companies have a line of DTM(direct to metal) paints which have high adhesion and are good quality
Sherwin williams make a good one,
stay away from pittsburg dtms ,the product is crap
devoe have a really good one ,not sure if it is sold to public Available at ICI

[Chubsnub]

Thanks torpainter I have a Sherwin Williams dealing in my area and will probably go with their product DTM good to know, will attempt this when there looks like 2 or 3 solid days of good weather, Thanks again everyone for all your help here.