Aluminum eaves, soffits, and downspouts can provide years of trouble-free service thanks to their inherent resistance to rust and corrosion. However, there may come a time when they begin to lose their visual appeal due to fading from harsh weather, chalking, or just not matching your home’s new paint scheme. The good news is, yes, you can paint aluminum! This blog will guide you through the process of a successful makeover.
When and Why Should You Paint Aluminum Eaves, Soffits, and Downspouts?
Generally, aluminum eaves, soffits, and downspouts don’t require much maintenance. But through the years, they might begin to look tired and aged, affecting the overall exterior look of your home. Given their prominence on a house’s exterior, freshly painted eaves, soffits, and downspouts can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal.
Painting these elements can also extend their lifespan. While durable, aluminum can still suffer from minor pits and corrosion over time. The fresh paint acts as an additional protective layer against these issues, further enhancing the fixture’s durability.
What You Need to Know Before Painting Aluminum Eaves, Soffits, and Downspouts
Painting aluminum elements requires special preparation to ensure the paint adheres properly to the surface.
- Cleaning: The first step involves thoroughly cleaning these components to remove any dirt, chalkiness, and mildew that may interfere with paint adherence.
- Sanding: After that, lightly sand the surfaces to remove any loose paint (if they were previously painted) and create a slightly rough surface for better paint adherence.
- Primer: Using a good primer is essential as it promotes paint adherence and prevents any old finish or stains from showing through your top coat.
- Paint: Use a paint formulated specifically for metal surfaces and outdoor durability. An acrylic latex exterior paint usually works well.
How to Paint Aluminum Eaves, Soffits, and Downspouts
When spring is on the way and you’re ready to make some improvements to the exterior of your Toronto home. You can make a significant impact by tackling the small details. If you have aluminum eaves, soffits and downspouts, painting them can make a big difference to your home’s curb appeal. This home project can be a bit of a challenge for one person to tackle alone, especially for those who are uncomfortable with heights. It’s a job that most homeowners can take on, but it takes some work and preparation, and it’s better with someone to assist.
Do a Thorough Cleaning.
First, before doing any kind of exterior painting in Toronto. You want to ensure you are cleaning the surface of everything you want to paint.
Second, if you have a pressure washer, that is the most convenient way to clean your eaves, soffits and downspouts. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you may be able to rent one from a local hardware store or borrow one from someone you know. Otherwise, washing the aluminum will take a lot of time to clean it thoroughly by hand.
Third, clean aluminum eaves, soffits and downspouts with mild soap, water and a soft brush.
If the aluminum is rusted or damaged, power washing may damage it further. In case there is debris left on the aluminum, the paint job won’t dry well and could cause flaking and cracking, which can make it look unkempt.
Let it dry completely
Once you’re done cleaning the aluminum, let it dry completely before moving on to the next steps. If you find any damage or rust, you will want to replace those pieces before painting. You can purchase a mildew retardant if you’ve found any mould or mildew to ensure it doesn’t return.
Prevention is the key.
Prepare Your Gutters For Priming
To have a high-quality paint job, you must ensure you’re priming the aluminum in advance. Using a clear acrylic bonding primer will help you achieve the best results.
Apply the primer to the spotless and dried surface using a small brush. Once you’ve covered the eaves, soffits and downspouts completely, let the primer dry according to the instructions from the manufacturer.
Add A layer of Protection Using An Oil-based Enamel
Once your primer is dry, you will want to apply an oil-based enamel. Adding the layer of enamel will make rainwater bead up and flow quickly through the gutters.
Apply one to two coats of the enamel and allow it to dry completely before painting.
Paint with an Aluminum-appropriate Paint
Once the enamel coats have dried entirely, it’s time to paint. So, what paint to use on aluminum fascia, eaves, soffits, and downspouts? Use a paint that is best on aluminum and will work well with your primer and enamel, like 100% acrylic that has no ammonia. Opting for paint with UV protection will help extend the life of the paint and reduce the amount of sun damage that your gutters will sustain.
When painting soffit and fascia, you may want to use drop cloths or painter’s tape to protect the other surfaces around your gutters. Add one or two coats of paint until you get your desired results.
Home Painters Toronto Expert Tips
• Painting aluminum eaves, soffits and downspouts is a job that should be done in the springtime. You want to choose a day with sunshine and a slight breeze so the paint can dry quickly.
• Spray painting gutters is a quick way to get the job done, but it’s not as precise as using a brush. If you choose to spray paint, you’ll need extra prep time to cover the exterior of your home in drop cloths.
• If your gutters haven’t been cleaned in a while, it might be worth hiring a professional to clean them for you, who can let you know where the damage is and save you some time.
• Suppose you need help choosing which colour to paint your gutters. In that case, we offer a free colour consultation with every exterior paint job. Our professionals can help you pick a colour that will really enhance the look of your home.
Understanding the Cost to Paint Aluminum Eaves, Soffits, and Downspouts in Toronto
When planning to paint your home’s aluminum features in Toronto, expect to spend between $2,500 and $4,500. This range depends on the size of your house and the specific conditions of your eaves, soffits, and downspouts. Here’s why the costs can vary so much:
- Project Size: Bigger houses mean more area to cover, which requires more paint and more time from the painters.
- Condition: If your aluminum is in poor shape, it’ll need more work before painting, which adds to the cost.
- Paint Quality: Better paint costs more but lasts longer and protects your home better.
- Access: If painters have trouble reaching certain parts of your house, they might need special equipment, which can increase the price.
- Professional Fees: The cost also changes based on who you hire. More experienced painters might charge more, but they could offer higher-quality work.
Replacement vs. Painting
Sometimes, you might wonder if it’s just cheaper to replace your eaves, soffits, and downspouts rather than paint them. Typically, replacing these features can be 25 to 100% more expensive than painting. Here are the details:
- Cost of Replacement: Replacing aluminum soffits, eaves, and downspouts involves not only the new materials but also more labour compared to painting. This is why the cost jumps significantly.
- Why Paint: Given the high cost of replacement, painting is a cost-effective way to both improve the appearance and protect your home’s exterior without breaking the bank. Plus, with the right paint and a professional painting job, you can expect your aluminum features to last for many years.
CONCLUSION
By following the right steps and techniques, you can easily and effectively paint aluminum eaves, soffits, and downspouts. Not only will this greatly enhance the visual appeal of your home’s exterior, but it will also add an extra layer of protection against the elements. Your home will look revitalized and ready to impress! Remember, like any other DIY project, patience and preparation are essential. Good luck with your home improvement project!
Now you understand that it is best to do your house exterior painting in the spring, especially in Toronto and the GTA, where we get a variety of seasons and extreme temperatures. Remember that the most durable, toughest and best protective finish is attained when the weather isn’t too hot or too cold. This is why springtime is the best time of year for exterior house painting.
At Home Painters Toronto, as a top-rated exterior house painting contractor in Toronto, we will assist you in your exterior painting jobs this spring. Just give us a call at 416.494.9095 or send an email Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com to get a free online Exterior House Painting Toronto cost estimate.
