Anybody have any tips for cleaning aluminum siding. Just got 8 houses in a row, 5 roof wash and 8 house wash. Wanted to make sure I do it right. The siding is very dirty and probably has never been cleaned in 30 years.I was gonna do a 2% mixture and may have to scrub a little. Any tips on aluminum would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Barry Landis said
May 2, 2013
If it's aluminum and hasn't been cleaned in 30 years you better do some test spots first. If the paint is in poor condition, which it most likely is after 30+ years, you definitely don't want to scrub. I just did one last week and the old oxidized paint just washed off the siding just from wetting the walls for the roof cleaning.
Dan Dykstra said
May 2, 2013
If you can run your hand on the siding and it comes away the same color as the house - run, these need to be replaced with vinyl or repainted. Or make sure you talk with the homeowner and explain that it could look very chalky in spots or the paint could all but be gone from the siding after a wash. Just my thoughts.
Chris Connolly said
May 2, 2013
Thanks Barry and Dan, I went by earlier and the siding is chalky and in pretty bad shape. I'm gonna have to talk to the owners and let them know that there may be discoloration when I'm done. Thanks again
AC Lockyer said
May 2, 2013
Yes Chris, many times on western facing alum you can softwash the coating away as well. Not your fault just the UV rays from the sun kills the powder coat on the alum siding.
AC
Josh Scavetta said
May 2, 2013
even if the paint is fine you should only need 1%
Danny Cronauer said
May 2, 2013
I have been passing on aluminum every day. The majority havent been painted in 15-20 years. I tell them, me cleaning it isn't going to make this looked painted. I am going to start asking over the phone if they have aluminum siding.
Mike Laskowski said
May 4, 2013
Less is more with aluminum siding. I use only 1/2 percent on aluminum. Also be forewarned that the paint residual runoff will interact with other surfaces like decks and doors so make sure you stay diligent with property protection, manage customer expectations as far as UV fading, uneven results from paint oxidation as well as letting the customer be aware of the potential risk of paint residual interacting with other surfaces. Managing customer expectations is HUGE with aluminum siding. I would also recommend a signed customer acknowledgement of all these issues. Good Luck!
Anybody have any tips for cleaning aluminum siding. Just got 8 houses in a row, 5 roof wash and 8 house wash. Wanted to make sure I do it right. The siding is very dirty and probably has never been cleaned in 30 years.I was gonna do a 2% mixture and may have to scrub a little. Any tips on aluminum would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
AC
Less is more with aluminum siding. I use only 1/2 percent on aluminum. Also be forewarned that the paint residual runoff will interact with other surfaces like decks and doors so make sure you stay diligent with property protection, manage customer expectations as far as UV fading, uneven results from paint oxidation as well as letting the customer be aware of the potential risk of paint residual interacting with other surfaces. Managing customer expectations is HUGE with aluminum siding. I would also recommend a signed customer acknowledgement of all these issues. Good Luck!