Pitting?

[chrisduffy543]

On a house some times there are these little dots that dont come off like there part of the aluminum siding i have always called them pitting but i maybe wrong would any one else know? and if so what could get them off?

 

[Spencer]

Are you talking about artillery fungus? Little black or brown dots?

 

[apluspower]

If you're talking about small brown dots low on the siding it's most likely shotgun fungus.

If you're talking about areas under the soffits, overhangs and under windows it is most likely pitting on aluminum siding.

This is caused by dirt and pollutants that get on the siding and static bond to the paint. They don't get washed off by rain in these areas. They then deteriorate or eat through the paint to expose the aluminium and once it is exposed it pits and corrodes.

If you have a hot water machine and the right soap you can "burn" the siding and get all the bonding to release.

You should note that the "newest" aluminium out there is most likely 20 years old and the "oldest" most likely 40. You can't burn siding that is really oxidized as you'll take all the paint off and be looking at bear metal.

This method is not for beginners and you can really cause alot of problems if you don't know how to do this.

 

[chrisduffy543]

Yes i think i am talking about artillery fungus. thanks for the reply aplus.

 

[mario]

last year i pick them off with my finger nail, a lady told me to scrape them off with a plactic scraper then use mr. clean eraser. never tried it yet, but going to keep some of those erasers in my truck.