Cleaning Aluminum Siding Chalking

It dents easily and the red color is difficult to coordinate with outdoor decor.

Cleaning aluminum siding chalking.

Oil based paints tend to chalk more than latex formulations. Chalk removal raises the value of the home and is much less expensive than siding replacement. The uv rays from the sun breaks down the paint fades aluminum siding and creates chalking. Clean chalky aluminum siding with cleaning products.

To clean your aluminum siding choose a dry windless day. Use appropriate materials to clean mildew and chalking. A chalky white substance on your vinyl siding and trim is caused by oxidation which occurs most often during damp or wet weather. The white chalky residue on your siding often takes place from weathering mildew or exterior paint chipping.

I ll show you how to clean aluminum siding and remove that chalky residue easily without power washing. Scrub off the chalk with a strong solution of water and spic and span or tsp detergent or a nonphosphate tsp alternative. Factory finished siding can develop an excessively thick chalk layer and may require power washing to ensure complete chalk removal. Following the scrubbing we will go back over the siding with a light power wash to rinse.

To clean stubborn mildew you will need bleach. Once you ve determined what cleaning method to use try to work in the shade as much as possible. It is advertised as low maintenance. Aluminum siding first began appearing on homes in the early 1960s.

Oxidation can be cleaned from most vinyl siding but the process. Some exterior paints such as those used on aluminum siding intentionally chalk for self cleaning. Vinegar and borax are other good eco friendly alternatives for cleaning mold and mildew. You can also look for special cleaning solutions that are meant for cleaning aluminum siding at your local hardware store.

While aluminum siding is rigid and holds up well to the environment chalk will show up eventually. Use of an interior paint for an outdoor application. Use of a low grade highly pigmented paint. Wipe the surface with the palm of your hand.

Read this before you power wash your aluminum siding. Chalk occurs on aluminum siding due to aging and weather effects. If the paint color comes off on your hand the paint is chalking. It s not hard to clean oxidized aluminum patio furniture or siding if you have the right materials.

The problem however is that this product experiences corrosion especially in areas of high humidity or salty ocean winds. The cleaning agent makes the removal of the chalk easier and it also kills any mold mildew or algae that may be growing on the siding as we don t want that festering beneath our top coat of paint. Check your siding first for signs of mildew chalking and needed repairs.