How much should I budget for repainting aluminum siding on my Ottawa home?

Repainting aluminum siding is a smart alternative to full replacement — especially in Ottawa where so many 1960s–1980s homes in Nepean, Gloucester, Kanata, and Barrhaven still have the original aluminum cladding. When done properly, a quality repaint can buy you another 15–20 years at a fraction of replacement cost.

Cost Breakdown for Ottawa Homes

For a standard two-storey Ottawa home (roughly 1,500–2,000 sq ft of siding surface), professional aluminum siding repainting typically runs:

• Basic repaint (wash, prime spots, two coats): $3,500–$5,500
• Full prep repaint (power wash, hand scrub, full prime, two coats): $5,000–$7,500
• Premium repaint (complete prep, primer coat, two coats premium acrylic): $6,500–$9,000

On a per-square-foot basis, expect $2.50–$5.00 per sq ft of siding surface. Ottawa pricing is about 10–15% below GTA rates for the same scope of work.

For comparison, replacing aluminum siding with new vinyl or James Hardie fiber cement runs $15,000–$35,000 for the same house. Repainting is typically one-third to one-quarter the cost of replacement.

Why Prep Is Everything With Aluminum

Aluminum siding doesn't fail the way wood does — it doesn't rot or warp. But it does develop chalking (that white powdery residue you can rub off with your hand), oxidation, and fading. Ottawa's climate accelerates all three:

• UV exposure during long summer days breaks down the factory finish
• Salt spray from winter road treatment corrodes the surface, especially on homes near major roads like Merivale, Innes, or March Road
• Freeze-thaw cycling between Ottawa's -30°C winters and +35°C summers causes expansion and contraction that stresses paint adhesion
• 200+ cm of annual snowfall means moisture contact for months at a time along the lower courses

Proper prep for aluminum siding requires:

Power washing at moderate pressure (1,200–1,500 PSI — too high dents the aluminum)

Hand-washing with TSP solution to remove chalking residue that power washing alone misses

Sanding or scuffing glossy areas for adhesion

Priming bare or heavily oxidized spots with a bonding primer like Stix or XIM 400

Caulking gaps at trim intersections, corners, and around penetrations

Skipping the chalk removal step is the most common shortcut — and the reason cheap aluminum repaint jobs peel within 2–3 years. The chalk creates a barrier between the new paint and the metal surface. If your quote seems too low, ask about their chalking removal method.

Best Paint Products for Ottawa Aluminum Siding

The paint choice matters enormously on aluminum:

• 100% acrylic latex is the standard — it flexes with temperature changes without cracking
• Sherwin-Williams Duration or Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior are top-tier choices at $65–$85 per gallon
• Avoid oil-based paints on aluminum — they become brittle in Ottawa's cold and crack
• Self-priming formulas work on lightly oxidized siding but still need spot priming on bare or heavily chalked areas

A typical Ottawa home needs 8–15 gallons of exterior paint depending on size and number of coats. Material cost alone runs $500–$1,200 for quality product.

Colour Considerations

Aluminum siding holds lighter colours better than dark ones. Dark colours absorb more heat, causing the aluminum to expand more in Ottawa's summer sun (surface temperatures can exceed 60°C on south-facing walls), which accelerates peeling.

If you're in a heritage district like the Glebe, Sandy Hill, Centretown, or Rockcliffe Park, check with the City of Ottawa's heritage planning team before choosing colours. Heritage Conservation Districts have design guidelines that may restrict your palette, and painting aluminum siding a non-approved colour can trigger compliance issues.

Seasonal Timing

Exterior painting on aluminum siding needs:

• Minimum 10°C air and surface temperature
• No rain for 24 hours after application
• Low humidity for proper curing

In Ottawa, this means the ideal window is mid-May through early October. The best conditions are typically June and September — warm enough for proper curing but not so hot that paint dries too fast (which causes lap marks on aluminum's smooth surface).

What to Look For in Quotes

When comparing estimates, make sure each quote specifies:

• Prep method (power wash only vs. power wash + hand wash + chalk removal)
• Number of coats (two minimum — one coat on aluminum never lasts)
• Primer approach (full prime vs. spot prime)
• Paint brand and product line
• Warranty on labour and materials

Browse Ottawa Paint Contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory to find painters experienced with aluminum siding. This is a specialty skill — not every residential painter handles metal siding well, so look for crews who specifically list exterior aluminum work in their services.