Dear Gary,
I have white aluminum-cover baseboard heating. Close to the windows where my dogs’ barking has (yuck!) dripped little doggy-droplets of drool and in the kitchen and laundry room near the sink, there are a lot of little rust spots. They are on the moveable deflectors as well as the top and side covers. Is there any easy and safe way to clean up this unsightly rust? I don’t think I have the talent for a paint job on this kind of surface, or is this easier than I think? I think the baseboard is at least thirty years old, and I imagine it would be very expensive to replace.
Thanks for your help.
Rusty.
Dear Rusty,
You can remove the end caps, front cover, and damper. (The end caps come off first, they lift up and unsnap from the enclosure, then the front panel and damper unsnap from the wall brackets.) Take these to a work bench or table. Sand them until the rust is gone using an electric pad sander or a hand sanding block. When the rust is gone, wipe the surfaces with a damp rag and dry with a clean towel. Get some Rustoleum primer paint and paint with several light coats until you get smooth coverage. Let dry. Then, using a color of your choice, apply a finish coat with latex enamel paint. Let dry. Hand sand the wall enclosure that you cannot remove, usually just the top edge. Prime the piece that you just sanded, and apply a finish coat when the primer has dried.
Dear Gary,
I have an aluminum-sided house that has been painted in the past, and we want to update the color. The siding is in very solid condition. There is no peeling or flaking of the paint itself, but it is very dusty from traffic grime and other air pollutants. Do we need to take any particular care before we repaint? Do we have to wash it, or would a good whisk broom do the trick?
Pre-Paint Pondering
Dear Pre Paint,
Normally aluminum siding oxidizes and chalks. You will have to wash the siding with a high- pressure sprayer, or use the old soap, bucket, and brush method. Before you repaint, the surface must be totally clean and dry. If the old paint is stable and is not peeling, you could paint over the existing surface. Tell your local paint retailer what you are painting, and they will provide you with the proper paint and brushes for the job. It pays to use good paint. Don’t scrimp and buy an economy brand. Cliché or not, you do get what you pay for.
Hint: When you paint your house, start at the top, at the overhangs, and work your way down. That way if you drip you can wipe it off the surface you have not yet painted. Also, start painting on the shady side of the house and work your way around as the sun moves, so you are not painting in the direct sun. It will dry and cure better and last longer.
Carpenter Gary Ranck is a sales representative for Brookside Homes. Contact him at or submit a question to askgary@mountainhomemag.com.
