- Totally get the frustration with those corners. Took me a while to figure out how much pressure to use before the trim started to look weird.
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Same here—mine’s this faded off-white that never really matches anything else on the house.“Still wish there were more color choices, though... mine’s stuck in that ‘80s beige.”
- Agree on durability. The paint on my old wood sills lasted maybe two winters before it started bubbling. Aluminum’s been solid for five years now, no touch-ups needed.
- Only drawback for me: the limited colors and that “metal” look can clash with older homes. Would love to see more modern options, but not sure if that’s coming anytime soon.
- If it helps, I found using a heat gun on low made those bends just a bit easier—less crimping and cleaner lines.
Yeah, those corners can be a pain—if you push too hard, you end up with a weird ripple, but too light and it doesn’t seat right. I’ve had decent luck scoring the back side just a touch before bending; seems to help keep the lines crisp. Color options are definitely lacking. I’ve seen some folks spray paint the aluminum after install, but I’m always wary about long-term adhesion, especially in rough winters. Still, the no-maintenance factor is tough to beat compared to repainting every couple years.
I’ve seen some folks spray paint the aluminum after install, but I’m always wary about long-term adhesion, especially in rough winters.
You’re right to be cautious about painting aluminum, especially if you’re dealing with freeze/thaw cycles or a lot of wind-driven rain. I’ve been called out to a few jobs where the paint started flaking off after just a couple seasons—usually when folks went with a basic spray paint or skipped the prep. The trick, if you really want to paint, is to use an etching primer designed for metal and then a high-grade exterior paint. Even then, it’s not totally bulletproof. The expansion and contraction from temperature swings can eventually break the bond.
We did a set of windows on a 70s split-level last fall—standard white cladding, which the homeowner hated. She wanted a deep green to match her shutters. We prepped every piece in the shop: scuffed it with a red Scotch-Brite pad, wiped it down with acetone, then sprayed with a self-etching primer before topcoating. Looked great, but it’s only been through one winter so far. Time will tell. I warned her that even with all the prep, it might need touch-ups down the road.
On the other hand, the “no-maintenance” side of aluminum cladding is hard to beat. I’ve got original aluminum on my own place (mid-90s install), and aside from the color being a little dated, it’s still solid. No peeling, no rot, just the occasional hose-down to knock off cobwebs.
As for those corners, yeah, bending can be a pain. I use a brake with adjustable tension, and it helps, but there’s always a learning curve. Scoring the back like you mentioned definitely makes a difference—just have to be careful not to go too deep or you’ll weaken the bend.
Color options are still pretty limited unless you want to pay for custom coil, which can get pricey fast. Most folks just end up picking the “least bad” color and living with it.
If you’re after zero fuss and can live with the stock colors, factory-finished aluminum’s tough to beat. But if the look is a dealbreaker, just be realistic about the upkeep if you go the paint route.
I’ve had the same debate with myself for years. The original aluminum on my ‘92 ranch is still hanging in there—color’s not my favorite, but honestly, it’s outlasted a lot of other “upgrades” I’ve tried. I considered painting, but after seeing a neighbor’s start peeling after two winters, I just stuck with the factory finish. It might not be flashy, but it’s way less hassle long-term.
It might not be flashy, but it’s way less hassle long-term.
That’s kind of where I landed too. I’m curious—has anyone tried those newer vinyl wraps or coatings? I’ve seen mixed reviews, especially in areas with big temp swings. Wondering if they hold up better than paint or just end up being another maintenance headache.
I’ve wondered about those vinyl wraps too, especially since the weather here is all over the place—hot summers, freezing winters, lots of humidity swings. I looked into them when I first bought my place last year. The installer I talked to said vinyl can expand and contract a lot, which sometimes leads to warping or little gaps over time. He claimed newer coatings are more flexible, but I’m not sure how much that really helps after five or ten years out in the elements.
Honestly, I ended up sticking with a high-quality exterior paint. It’s not maintenance-free, but at least I know what to expect, and touch-ups seem easier. The upfront cost for wraps was a lot higher too, which made me hesitate. Maybe the tech will improve in a few years, but for now, I’d rather deal with repainting every so often than risk peeling or bubbling vinyl.
Still, I totally get why you’d want something lower maintenance—if it actually holds up. If anyone’s had luck with wraps in places with wild weather, I’d be interested to hear about it too.
I’m right there with you on the skepticism about vinyl wraps, especially with our crazy weather. I did a ton of research before I bought my place last spring, and honestly, I kept circling back to the same concerns—mainly, how much expansion and contraction vinyl can handle before it starts looking rough. The installer I talked to showed me some samples that looked great in the showroom, but when I asked about long-term durability, he got a bit vague. “Oh, the new stuff is way better,” he said, but couldn’t really point to any houses in our area that had made it past the five-year mark without issues.
I ended up going with aluminum cladding on my window frames and sticking with paint for the trim. The aluminum option wasn’t cheap, but it’s held up surprisingly well through one wild winter and a couple of those humid, sticky weeks we get in July. I will say, it dents a lot easier than I expected—my kid’s soccer ball left a small ding that’ll probably bug me forever—but I haven’t seen any peeling or bubbling. Paint needs touch-ups every few years, but at least I can do that myself on a weekend (as long as I don’t mind getting paint in my hair).
Funny enough, my neighbor across the street did vinyl wraps about four years ago. They looked sharp at first, but now there are a few spots where the seams have pulled apart a bit, especially on the south-facing side. He’s already talking about redoing those sections, which kind of defeats the whole “low-maintenance” pitch.
It’s tough to find something that’s truly set-it-and-forget-it in this climate. I guess for me, knowing I can fix paint or even replace a bit of trim without calling in the pros is worth a little extra work every now and then. Maybe in a few years the wraps will catch up, but for now, I’m sticking with what I know—even if it means a ladder and some elbow grease once in a while.
That’s pretty much what I see out in the field, honestly—vinyl wraps can look sharp at first, but the seams and corners are always the weak spots, especially with all the freeze-thaw cycles we get. Aluminum cladding does hold up better, though those little dents are hard to avoid if you’ve got active kids or a busy yard. I’m curious—have you noticed any condensation issues around your aluminum frames in winter? Sometimes I get calls about that, but it seems to vary house to house.
I’m curious—have you noticed any condensation issues around your aluminum frames in winter?
Honestly, yeah, I’ve seen some condensation now and then, but nothing major. Usually it’s worse in spots with poor insulation or older windows. Still beats repainting every couple years, if you ask me.