Aluminum Siding Repair, Replacement & Upgrades in the Bay Area

Mid-century aluminum siding doesn't burn and can last for decades, but it dents, it chalks, and it may be hiding the condition of the wall behind it.

Aluminum siding serviceRepair, replace or upgradeLarkspur, Marin County(415) 619-5167

Bay Area Siding Company helps homeowners decide what to do with aging aluminum siding. The right answer may be to keep and refinish it, repair a section, or replace it with vinyl or fiber cement. Whichever you choose, we explain the trade-offs plainly and build the wall assembly correctly.

Want a straight assessment of your aluminum siding? Request an estimate.

Call (415) 619-5167

Where aluminum siding stands today

Aluminum siding was common on mid-century homes, including many of the Bay Area's 1950s–60s tract neighborhoods. It was often sold as a low-maintenance upgrade and nailed over the original wood clapboard. It has real strengths. It is noncombustible and lightweight, and it doesn't rot or feed insects. A well-kept aluminum wall can still be doing its job.

Its weaknesses show up with age. Aluminum dents easily from ball impacts, ladders, and hail, and those dents don't pop back out. The factory finish chalks and fades over time. On an older aluminum home, rubbing a hand along a sunny wall often leaves a powdery residue. Near the coast, marine-layer moisture and salt air call for a closer look at fasteners and trim for corrosion, especially where dissimilar metals meet. Inland, strong UV speeds up fading on south- and west-facing walls.

Repair has its own limits. Matching a decades-old aluminum profile and color can be hard, so a patched panel may stand out. The bigger issue is usually what you can't see. A common finding when older aluminum comes off is that the original siding, water-resistive barrier, or window flashing underneath has taken on water at openings and penetrations. That is why many owners with failing aluminum choose to replace it with vinyl or fiber cement rather than keep patching.

Aluminum vs. vinyl vs. fiber cement

Factor	Aluminum	Vinyl	Fiber cement
Fire behavior	Noncombustible material	Combustible; may not meet requirements on some fire-hazard parcels	Noncombustible; commonly used on Chapter 7A projects
Impact	Dents easily; dents are permanent	Flexes and resists denting; can crack in cold or with hard impacts	Rigid and dent-resistant; edges can chip if mishandled
Finish & fade	Factory finish chalks and fades; can be repainted with proper prep	Color runs through the panel; no painting needed; can fade gradually	Holds paint well; factory-finish options available
Movement	Expands and contracts with temperature	Expands and contracts noticeably; must be hung loose in nail slots	Dimensionally stable; relies on proper joint and flashing detailing
Weight & handling	Very light	Light and quick to install	Heavy; cutting requires dust control
Maintenance	Periodic washing; eventual refinishing	Washing only	Periodic repainting over the long term; caulk checks
Good fit for	Owners keeping sound existing aluminum	Budget-conscious projects where low maintenance and lower upfront cost matter	Owners wanting a painted-wood look, durability, and fire resistance

Keep it, replace it, or switch materials?

Is the aluminum mostly cosmetic-worn, or is there water damage behind it?

Chalking and fading alone are cosmetic. Aluminum can be cleaned, primed with a product rated for metal, and repainted. Soft spots, stains inside the house, or swollen trim near windows point to a moisture problem that paint won't fix.

How many panels are damaged?

A few dented pieces on a low wall can sometimes be swapped if a reasonable profile match exists. When dents are widespread, or no match can be found, patching often costs more in appearance than it saves.

Is your parcel in a mapped fire hazard severity zone?

Check Cal Fire's fire hazard severity zone maps. If your home is in a designated zone, Chapter 7A of the California Building Code sets requirements for exterior wall coverings and certain openings. Noncombustible options like fiber cement are commonly used there, and we confirm what applies with your local building department.

Vinyl or fiber cement?

Vinyl suits owners who want low maintenance and a lower upfront cost, and it never needs paint. Fiber cement costs more to install. In return it offers a crisp painted-wood appearance, noncombustibility, and James Hardie's transferable 30-year substrate and 15-year ColorPlus finish limited warranties. Either one is a sound choice when installed correctly.

What drives the cost of replacing aluminum siding

Replacement material and profile: vinyl, fiber cement lap, panel, or shingle, plus any factory-finish option
What's under the aluminum: whether original wood siding is removed or left in place, and whether lead-safe practices apply on pre-1978 homes
Condition of the sheathing, WRB, and flashing once exposed, and how much repair they need
Number of windows, doors, and penetrations that need new flashing integration and trim
Wall height, access, and staging on hillside or tight lots
Permit scope and any Chapter 7A or local requirements set by your jurisdiction

Our aluminum siding replacement process

Consultation & estimate. We walk the house, check for dents, chalking, corrosion, and signs of water at openings, and give you a written scope with options.
Permits. Where a permit is required, we file with your local building department. We confirm current requirements, including any fire-zone rules, with the AHJ.
Aluminum removal. We remove the aluminum panels, trim, and starter strips. If original wood siding lies beneath, we address it, using lead-safe work practices where the home's age calls for them.
Inspect the substrate. With the wall open to the sheathing/substrate, we check the water-resistive barrier and flashing around windows, doors, and penetrations for damage or gaps.
Repairs & new WRB. Damaged sheathing is repaired. A new WRB is installed shingle-lapped so water drains outward, and window and door flashing is integrated with it. Where specified, furring creates a rainscreen gap.
Install to manufacturer spec. Vinyl is hung loose in its nail slots to allow movement. Fiber cement gets the required fastening, butt-joint flashing, and clearances from grade and roofing.
Final walkthrough. We review the finished walls, trim, and sealant joints with you and clean up the site.

Why homeowners choose Bay Area Siding Company

We're based in Larkspur and serve homeowners across the Bay Area. We start from the wall assembly, not just the siding, and we'll tell you when keeping your aluminum makes more sense.

Assembly-first work

Every replacement includes inspecting and correcting the sheathing, WRB, and flashing before new siding goes on.

Installed to spec

We install vinyl and fiber cement to the manufacturer's installation instructions, which also supports your product warranty.

Honest, clear scope

You get plain guidance on repair versus replacement and a written scope, with a direct line at (415) 619-5167.

Other services we offer

Moving on from aluminum? Explore the replacement options and see our work.

Vinyl siding installation Fiber cement siding Whole-home siding replacement Our projects

Aluminum Siding FAQ

Can faded aluminum siding be painted?

Yes. The chalky residue must be washed off first, then a primer suited to metal applied, followed by a quality exterior paint. Painting refreshes the color but won't remove dents or fix moisture problems behind the panels.

Can new siding go right over my aluminum?

We don't recommend it. Covering aluminum hides the condition of the WRB and flashing, adds thickness at window and door trim, and may not align with manufacturer installation requirements. Removing it lets us inspect and correct the wall first.

Is aluminum siding a good choice in Bay Area wildfire zones?

Aluminum is noncombustible, but Chapter 7A compliance depends on the full exterior wall assembly and on openings like vents, not just the siding material. If your parcel is in a Cal Fire-mapped zone, we confirm requirements with your building department. Many owners choose fiber cement when they replace.

Does coastal air affect aluminum siding?

On homes near the coast or the Bay, salt air and marine-layer moisture can corrode fasteners and trim over time, particularly where dissimilar metals touch. It's worth checking those details during any inspection.

Do I need a permit to replace aluminum siding?

It depends on your city or county. Many Bay Area jurisdictions require one for re-siding, especially when sheathing or windows are involved. We verify with the AHJ during the estimate stage.

Ready to repair, refinish, or replace your aluminum siding? Request an estimate today.

Call (415) 619-5167