How to Paint Aluminum Clad Windows

Many windows come in aluminum frames. Although aluminum is not as vulnerable to the elements as wood, it will have to be repainted on occasion. Aluminum tarnishes over time and can develop mold if it exposed to a lot of water and not enough sun. Painting over aluminum is easy if the surface is correctly prepared. The hardest part is avoiding paint splatters on the glass.

Detergent
Bucket
Water
Sponge
Cloth
Scrub brush
Bleach
Tack cloth
Painter's tape
Paint brush
Primer
Paint
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Pour some powdered detergent into a bucket of water. Add enough detergent so that the water becomes sudsy.
- 2
  Dip a cloth or small sponge into the bucket. Wipe off any dirt or debris that's on the aluminum.
- 3
  Scrub the aluminum with a small brush.
- 4
  If there's any mold or mildew on the aluminum, prepare a solution of one part bleach to three parts water in a bucket. Mold is usually green or black. Sponge the solution onto the moldy parts of the aluminum. Rinse off the aluminum and let it dry.
- 5
  Sand any areas of the aluminum that are flaky or that feel uneven. Continue sanding until the metal is smooth and shiny.
- 6
  Wipe off the aluminum with a tack cloth. A tack cloth will help the paint primer adhere to the aluminum.
- 7
  Place painter's tape on the window's glass or any others areas you want to protect from paint splatters.
- 8
  Brush a primer on the aluminum with a small paint brush. The Web site Ask the Builder (askthebuilder.com) recommends a metal primer that is both thinned down and oil based.
- 9
  Paint the aluminum with an acrylic latex exterior house paint.

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