Paint Aluminum or Vinyl Siding?
Q: Can you paint aluminum and vinyl siding? If so, will the paint crack at some point and time? Also, is there any way to remove paint drips from concrete and bricks?
A: We don't recommend painting vinyl siding because it expands and contracts too much.
Aluminum siding has a baked enamel finish so it needs to be sanded or scuffed, then primed with a special etching primer developed for this purpose. It costs about twice as much as traditional primer and is available at painting specialty stores. Then it can be painted with a premium acrylic house paint.
To remove paint drips from bricks:
- Soak with the appropriate solvent, depending on the type of paint: lacquer thinner for lacquer-based paint, paint thinner for oil based paint or "Goof Off" for latex paint. Let set.
- After it has softened, scrub with a stiff natural bristle brush.
- Wearing hand and eye protection, wash with a double strength mixture of TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) dissolved in very HOT water.
To remove paint drips from concrete:
- Soak with the appropriate solvent, depending on the type of paint: lacquer thinner for lacquer-based paint, paint thinner for oil based paint or "Goof Off" for latex paint. Let set.
- After it has softened, scrub with a stiff natural bristle brush.
- Wash the entire surface with muriatic acid (the same chemical used to clean pools). Wear hand and eye protection and be careful not to breathe the fumes.
- Rinse thoroughly with a hose.
Joe Sandino Homes R Us. Sacramento, CA
-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com