Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

AJ · Member

Newbie help? Aluminum Siding

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

you have to be extremely careful with old aluminum siding. I would not use that hot of a mix just in case of overspray and def have a groundsmen rinsing the siding.

AJ · Member

1%? or weaker?

what about the soap?

Fred W · Guru

Set the customers expectations FIRST. If that is old alum siding A LOT of that paint may fall off. Be honest and upfront and know that the siding will release paint. Even 1% could be too much.

AJ · Member

wow! I am glad I asked.
THANKS for all the input

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

i didnt realize you were cleaning the siding. for the roof i would use a 30% (4%) and and becareful up around the siding.

Doug is right! let the client know that it is possible the paint will come right off. if there not ok with that then dont wash the siding.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

What they said!!!!

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Aluminum siding can be a total PITA! The only aluminum we have had success cleaning w/o brushing was painted. I always explain to the customer that it will not clean up well w/o brushing and then it just might remove most of the finish. That is a call they will have to make. Most of the aluminum we have cleaned was cleaned to be painted so removing all of the oxidized finish is what they wanted.

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I'm sure it has lots of oxidation also so we regularly paint them afterwards. Do a lot of gutter painting that's been oxidized. Use a bonding acrylic primer first, though there are many newer self bonding finish coat paints.

A great up sell if they will go for it and you can paint but you will need to scrub to remove oxidation and failed paint coat.

Dave · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Did you check the siding for chalking? Rub a finger over it, and see how much paint ends up on your finger. This will let you know how bad it is. As far as the roof, a normal mix will do. That roof isn't bad at all. In what I see on roofs, that would be a walk in the park.

AJ · Member

THANKS GUYS

I did get some chalk on my fingers when i wiped it.. We are going to sit down and explain it to the client and maybe do a spot behind a bush or something.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The spot behind the bush would likely not be as oxidized as what is exposed to the Sun. I wouldn't do a test spot on the siding where it's in good condition, if they will allow you,..do the demo on the most oxidized side....Experience will get you away from having to do demo spots on aluminum,..and you'll be able to simply explain the job for what it is. That looks like smooth aluminum siding,..it always seem to oxidize worse than textured siding.

Explain it this way: The dirt is sticking tighter than the paint,..and to remove the dirt,..is going to bring some paint with it. How much,..is a determination by anyone who can see the job in person. Sometimes these jobs will surprise you and turn out better than you think,..even after explaining to the customer that the paint is gonna come off. "Under sell, over deliver"

Jeff

Fred W · Guru

Jeff Wible wrote:
The spot behind the bush would likely not be as oxidized as what is exposed to the Sun. I wouldn't do a test spot on the siding where it's in good condition, if they will allow you,..do the demo on the most oxidized side....Experience will get you away from having to do demo spots on aluminum,..and you'll be able to simply explain the job for what it is. That looks like smooth aluminum siding,..it always seem to oxidize worse than textured siding.

Explain it this way: The dirt is sticking tighter than the paint,..and to remove the dirt,..is going to bring some paint with it. How much,..is a determination by anyone who can see the job in person. Sometimes these jobs will surprise you and turn out better than you think,..even after explaining to the customer that the paint is gonna come off. "Under sell, over deliver"

Jeff

Well said

Dave O · Retired Member

How about this job guys? The customer wants us to clean his aluminum siding and gutters removing any oxide in addition to the dirt and mildew. He said the last time he cleaned it, he brushed the entire house with a TSP solution. I don't mind scrubbing it for $1450. We can use the standard soft wash mix with SH but that will not remove the oxide. To remove all the oxide, would you recommend brushing it with TSP, Aluminum Brighter or something else?

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have Alum to clean this week. I told the lady if I don't like how its coming out I'm going to stop. Her reply was she would get someone else to do it. She said its been power washed many times and it could be done again. She just doesn't under stand there isn't a lot of paint left on the siding.

Chris Mozick · Approved Exteior Cleaner

I agree with everyone also but brushing will make it even out and very light mix.