Residential services: Aluminum and vinyl siding painting in Ottawa

Painting instead of re-siding

Many Ottawa homes built from the 1960s to the 1980s still have their original aluminum siding, and plenty of newer houses have vinyl that has faded unevenly on the sunny side. If the siding is straight and well fastened, painting it costs far less than re-siding, keeps it out of the landfill, and lets you change the colour completely.

Chalk is the problem

Old aluminum siding is usually covered in chalk: the factory finish breaks down in the sun and leaves a fine powder you can wipe off with a finger. Paint applied over chalk sticks to the powder, not the siding, and peels. So the first job is a thorough wash with a cleaner that cuts chalk, mildew and grime, followed by a rinse. The surface is then checked with a simple wipe test, and spots that still chalk get more cleaning and a bonding primer.

Vinyl siding and colour choice

Vinyl can be painted, but colour matters more than on any other surface. Vinyl expands in the heat, and a colour darker than the original absorbs more sun and can make panels warp and buckle. Paint makers publish vinyl-safe colour ranges for this reason, and we keep you within them. Painting vinyl can also affect the siding manufacturer's warranty, so if your siding is fairly new, check that first.

The rest of the exterior

Siding is rarely painted on its own. Aluminum soffits, fascia, eavestroughs and downspouts, window and door trim, shutters, garage doors and the front door can all be painted at the same time, so the colours are planned together and the whole exterior is finished in one visit.

How the job runs

• Windows, doors, light fixtures, plants and walkways are covered or protected
• Siding is washed, de-chalked and rinsed, then left to dry
• Loose panels are refastened, and bare or chalky spots are primed
• Cracked caulking around windows and trim is renewed
• Finish coats go on by spray, roller and brush depending on the area, with the number of coats written into the quote
• The site is cleaned up and the job walked through with you at the end

Weather and timing

Exterior coatings need dry siding and mild temperatures to cure, so siding is painted from late spring to early fall, on days with no rain in the forecast, working around walls that are in hot, direct sun. Ottawa's painting season is short, so it pays to get your quote in early spring.

What paint can't fix

Paint changes the colour and protects the surface, but it won't straighten dented or bent panels, and it won't fix siding that's loose because the sheathing behind it has rotted. Dents are less noticeable in a flatter finish. We'll point out anything like that at the site visit so you know what to expect.