Aluminum Siding: Cost, Painting & Replacement
Independent — we don't sell or install siding · Last updated September 2026 · Data as of August 2026 · 2026 planning ranges, not quotes
The short answer
Most aluminum siding on houses today is decades old and still sound — the metal doesn't rot; the finish chalks and the panels dent. That makes the usual choice paint it or replace it. A professional repaint runs about $1,300–$3,900 for an average home; tearing it off and re-siding in vinyl runs about $6,500–$18,200. New aluminum is still made and costs about $3.50–$8 per sq ft installed, but few installers carry it.
Aluminum siding, then and now
Aluminum siding was the low-maintenance siding of the 1940s through the 1970s: embossed panels with a baked-on finish that never needed scraping like wood. Vinyl, which doesn't dent, took most of the market from the 1970s on, and steel took the premium metal slot. Aluminum is still manufactured — mainly by Kaycan and Gentek — but it is a niche product, so most homeowners searching for it own it rather than want to buy it.
| New aluminum, installed / sq ft | $3.50–$8 |
| Material only / sq ft | $1.50–$3.50 |
| Average home (~1,300 sq ft of wall) | $4,550–$10,400 |
| Typical lifespan | 30–50+ years |
Paint, repair, or replace old aluminum siding
| Option | Average home | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Clean only | Low | The finish is intact and just chalky or dirty — a wash may be all it needs. |
| Repaint | $1,300–$3,900 | Panels are straight and tight; you want a new color or the finish is worn through. |
| Replace with vinyl | $6,500–$18,200 | Widespread dents, loose or missing panels, or you want insulation and a new look. |
| Replace with lp smartside | $11,700–$22,750 | Widespread dents, loose or missing panels, or you want insulation and a new look. |
| Replace with fiber cement | $9,100–$20,800 | Widespread dents, loose or missing panels, or you want insulation and a new look. |
| Replace with metal / steel | $10,400–$23,400 | Widespread dents, loose or missing panels, or you want insulation and a new look. |
Replacement figures include tearing off the aluminum. Repaint figures use the site's standard $1–$3 per sq ft for professional siding painting.
How to paint aluminum siding
Paint on aluminum fails for one reason more than any other: it was put on over chalk. The factory finish oxidizes into a fine white powder, and paint bonds to the powder instead of the siding, then peels in sheets. Prep is the job.
- Do the chalk test. Rub a dark cloth or your hand across the siding. White powder means it must be washed off before anything else.
- Wash thoroughly. A siding cleaner or TSP-substitute solution and a soft brush, then a thorough rinse, until the chalk test comes up clean. Low-pressure washing is fine; high pressure can dent panels and drive water behind them.
- Let it dry completely — a full day in good weather.
- Prime where the metal shows. Spot-prime bare or worn-through areas with a bonding or metal primer made for aluminum. If chalk can't be fully removed, a bonding primer over the whole wall is cheap insurance.
- Two coats of 100% acrylic exterior paint. Acrylic stays flexible as aluminum expands and contracts. Satin or low-sheen hides dents better than gloss.
Done well, a repaint lasts about 5–10 years. Very dark colors on south and west walls fade faster.
In homes built before 1978, older coats on the siding may contain lead. Contractors working on painted surfaces in those homes must follow the EPA's lead-safe (RRP) work practices. See the can you paint siding guide for other materials.
Dents, hail, and matching
Aluminum dents from hail, balls and ladders, and dents can't be pulled out cleanly. The durable fix is replacing the panel, but exact matches for older profiles and colors are scarce — so installers often move panels from a hidden wall to the front and put new or painted panels where no one looks. After a hail storm, dented aluminum is also where insurance disputes over “cosmetic” damage and matching start; see hail damage to siding.
Aluminum vs vinyl siding
| Aluminum | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed / sq ft | $3.50–$8 | $4–$12 |
| Lifespan | 30–50 yrs | 20–40 yrs |
| Impact | Dents | Cracks, especially when cold |
| Paint | Chalks; can be repainted any color | Never needs paint; repainting is limited to lighter colors |
| Fire | Non-combustible | Melts and burns |
| Noise | Louder in rain and hail | Quieter |
The practical answer
If your aluminum is straight and tight, painting it is almost always better value than replacing it. If you're replacing it anyway, vinyl is the budget choice and steel is the modern metal that dents less; insulated vinyl is worth a look on older, uninsulated walls.
Keep going
Frequently asked questions
- Can you paint aluminum siding?
- Yes. Wash off all the chalk, prime bare or worn spots with a bonding/metal primer, then two coats of 100% acrylic. Pro jobs run about $1–$3/sq ft and last 5–10 years.
- How much does aluminum siding cost?
- About $3.50–$8 per sq ft installed — roughly $4,550–$10,400 for an average home. Still made (Kaycan, Gentek), but fewer installers carry it.
- Is aluminum siding still made?
- Yes — mainly Kaycan and Gentek. It's niche now, so matching old panels for repairs is usually the harder problem.
- Is aluminum siding better than vinyl?
- Aluminum won't crack in cold or burn and can be repainted; vinyl won't dent, never needs paint and is quieter. For most re-siding, vinyl or steel wins; for sound existing aluminum, painting usually beats replacing.
- How long does aluminum siding last?
- Typically 30–50+ years. The metal doesn't rot or rust — the finish chalks and the panels dent.
- Can you put vinyl siding over aluminum siding?
- Sometimes done, but removal is usually preferred: it's relatively cheap, lets you inspect the sheathing and add house wrap, and avoids a wavy wall over dented panels.
- How do you fix dents in aluminum siding?
- Small dents can be pulled and filled, cosmetically. The clean fix is a new panel — often salvaged from a hidden wall, with the new panel going where no one looks.
Cost figures are independent 2026 planning estimates and vary by home, material, region, and installer.