Siding
Aluminum Siding Repair on Older Cincinnati Homes
Most aluminum siding problems can be repaired. Dented or torn panels can be swapped out, loose panels can be refastened, and chalky, faded siding can be cleaned and repainted. The hardest part is usually finding panels that match. On homes built before 1978, there is one more thing to plan for: any work that disturbs old paint underneath may fall under the EPA's lead-safe rules.
Cincinnati has a lot of older housing, especially in the inner-ring neighborhoods and suburbs. Many of those homes had aluminum siding put on decades ago, often right over the original wood. Here is how I approach repairs on them.
What goes wrong with aluminum siding?
| Problem | Common cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dents | Hail, balls, ladders, lawn equipment | Leave small dents, or replace the panel |
| Chalky, faded finish | The factory finish breaks down with age and sun | Clean and repaint |
| Loose or rattling panels | Failed fasteners or panels pulled out of their locks | Refasten or relock the panel |
| Torn, split, or creased panels | Impact, wind, or old damage | Replace the panel |
| Gaps at corners and trim | Old caulk failing, trim pulling loose | Reseal, re-trim, or replace trim pieces |
| Stains or soft spots inside | Water getting behind the siding | Find the source before patching the outside |
Aluminum does not rot, so the siding itself often outlasts its paint. The bigger worry is water getting behind it and reaching the wood underneath.
Can dents in aluminum siding be fixed?
Not well. Aluminum stretches when it dents, so pushing or pulling it back out rarely leaves a flat surface. A few small dents may be worth leaving alone if the panel is not torn. If a dent is large, creased, or split, the better fix is a new panel.
After a hailstorm, many dents on one side of the house can point to storm damage. Our guide to hail damage on siding covers what to look for and what to photograph.
Where do matching panels come from?
This is the real challenge with aluminum. Colors fade over decades, and the exact profile on your house may be hard to find new. Here are the options we look at:
- Borrow from a hidden wall. We take panels from a spot few people see, like the back of a garage or behind a porch. Those go on the front, where they match. The hidden spot gets the closest new material available.
- Repaint after the repair. If the profile matches but the color does not, a full wall can be repainted so everything looks the same.
- Re-side one wall or more. If too many panels are damaged, a full wall in new siding may look better than a patchwork.
If storm damage is part of an insurance claim and panels cannot be matched, Ohio has a rule on matching. Our guide to Ohio's matching rule explains it.
Can aluminum siding be painted?
Yes. Repainting is often the best way to bring back faded aluminum siding. Most of the work is in the cleaning.
When aluminum's finish breaks down, it leaves a chalky powder that rubs off on your hand. Paint will not stick well to chalk. Sherwin-Williams' exterior surface preparation FAQ says:
- "Any surface that has a chalky feel should be cleaned to remove the chalk before painting."
- Pressure washing with a detergent is the easiest way to do it.
- Let the siding dry "a day or so" afterward, because washing drives water up behind the panels.
- Priming is generally not needed, "as long as the siding has had a chance to weather a year before painting."
Follow the paint maker's instructions for temperature and humidity. Bare metal spots may need a primer.
What is under your aluminum siding?
On many older homes, aluminum siding was nailed over the original wood siding. That wood may still have its old paint, and on a pre-1978 house, that paint may contain lead.
The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule covers "anyone paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978." Those workers and firms must generally be certified. The EPA's contractor page exempts small exterior jobs that disturb 20 square feet of paint or less.
The EPA answered a question about exactly this situation in its FAQ on removing aluminum siding over lead-painted wood. The rule applies if the work disturbs more than 20 square feet of painted surface, generally by creating paint chips or dust. When it is unclear, the EPA "recommends that renovators err on the side of caution and be prepared to contain any dust and debris."
What this means for you:
- A small panel swap may never touch the paint underneath.
- Removing whole walls of aluminum siding can disturb a lot of it.
- Ask any contractor about their EPA lead-safe certification before work starts on a pre-1978 home. The EPA has a search tool to find certified firms.
Should you repair, repaint, or replace?
Repair when the damage is a few panels, the siding is tight to the wall, and there is no sign of water behind it.
Repaint when the siding is sound but chalky, faded, or patched with panels that do not match.
Replace when damage covers several walls, panels keep coming loose, water has reached the wood behind, or you are ready for a different look. Our guide to fiber cement vs vinyl siding compares the two most common replacements. Our step-by-step installation guide explains what a full replacement involves.
Fall is a good time to make repairs, before winter wind and freeze-thaw cycles get into any gaps.
How Shamrock can help
We repair aluminum siding, and we also install vinyl, fiber cement, and wood siding when replacement makes more sense. We will tell you plainly whether a repair or a repaint will hold. See our siding services or request a free estimate.
FAQ
Do dents in aluminum siding let water in? Small dents usually do not. Tears, splits, and panels pulled out of their locks can. Check those first.
Can I pressure wash aluminum siding myself? You can, with care. Use low pressure and a detergent, keep the spray aimed down, and let the siding dry before painting. Water sprayed up under the laps can get behind the siding.
Can I replace one wall of aluminum with vinyl? Yes, especially on a back or side wall. The trim and colors need planning so the house still looks finished.
Does insurance cover hail dents in aluminum siding? It depends on your policy. Some policies treat cosmetic damage differently from damage that lets water in. Our Ohio homeowners insurance claims guide explains how claims work.