Aluminum Siding: The End of an Era

Drive through almost any Connecticut neighborhood, and you'll spot it: that slightly wavy, metallic siding that once made a house look modern. At Burr Custom Exteriors, we still see plenty of homes across the state with aluminum siding, especially the ones built or updated in the middle of the last century.

If your home is one of them, you're probably asking yourself two things. Does it still make sense to keep patching this siding, or has the time finally come to replace it? Aluminum did its job for decades, but sourcing headaches, visible wear, and newer materials have pushed it out of the spotlight. Let's break down what's changed so that you can make that call with confidence.

From New Idea to Neighborhood Staple

Aluminum siding showed up on homes in the late 1930s, once aluminum alloys became easier to produce at scale. Companies like Alcoa ramped up manufacturing through the 1940s, and the material went from a new idea to a common sight on American homes. Builders needed siding that could go up faster than wood, and aluminum delivered. It shrugged off rot, moisture, and insects, which made it appealing to homeowners tired of repainting and patching.

Here's how quickly it took hold:

• Late 1930s: Aluminum siding enters the residential market.

• 1940s: Production ramps up, and it becomes widely available.

• 1950s-1960s: It becomes a well-known feature in suburban neighborhoods.

• 1970s: Aluminum siding reaches its peak popularity nationwide.

• 1980s: Vinyl starts taking over as the go-to low-maintenance option.

For a long time, aluminum was the smartest choice on the market. But time has caught up with a lot of those installations, many of which are now 50 years old or more.

A Once-Popular Material in Decline

Aluminum siding hasn't disappeared entirely, but it's come close. Most major manufacturers have stepped away from residential product lines, and aluminum siding only shows up in commercial buildings, trim work, or repairs on homes that already have it.

For a homeowner shopping for new siding, aluminum has essentially become a discontinued product. You won't find it on the standard list of options most contractors offer, and few will recommend it for a replacement job anymore.

The Difficulty of Sourcing Panels

Some specialty suppliers and architectural salvage companies still carry aluminum panels, but finding one that resembles an older Connecticut home's original siding isn't always simple. A proper replacement also takes more than the same material. It needs to align on width and exposure, profile and texture, thickness, finish and color, and locking or attachment style, all at the same time.

Even the classic 8-inch panel isn't something contractors keep on hand the way they used to. A panel that checks every one of those boxes can still look off next to siding that's faded or oxidized over the decades. This is usually what tips the scales between another repair and a full replacement. A small patch job might get you by for now, but too many mismatched panels can leave your home looking pieced together.

Why Aluminum Lost Its Ground

Nothing dramatic knocked aluminum siding out of the market. Rather, a few recurring problems became too noticeable to overlook as alternatives improved.

A few drawbacks in particular stand out:

• It dents easily. Hail, falling branches, ladders, even a stray baseball can leave a permanent mark, and once the metal creases, there's no undoing it.

• It fades and chalks. That painted surface breaks down, leaving a powdery residue behind. Cleaning helps, but it won't bring back a finish that's already given out.

• It doesn't insulate well. Homes sided in the 1950s through the 1970s often have wall systems that fall short of what people expect today, and gaps only make that worse.

• New England weather doesn't help. Our seasonal swings cause the metal to expand and contract, which loosens fasteners and can leave panels looking uneven over time.

None of these downsides showed up overnight, but they explain why aluminum eventually lost its place to newer materials. And if several of these sound familiar, another repair probably won't solve much. It's typically a sign the system has reached the end of its useful life.

Options Built for Today’s Homes

The good news is that today's siding options give you a lot more to work with than aluminum ever did. Fiber cement has become the top pick for many Connecticut homeowners, but engineered wood, composite, and polymer options offer plenty of variation in price and performance depending on the line you choose. 

Whichever material you land on, you'll get a lot more flexibility than aluminum can offer at this point. Here's a quick side-by-side to help you compare:

Making the Most of a Replacement

Taking off old siding gives you a rare look at what's happening underneath, and it's worth thinking through a few things before you commit.

Once the panels come off, you might find aging house wrap, thin insulation, or sheathing that's seen better days. This is your chance to deal with those issues instead of covering them up again. Your new siding also needs to work with your windows, doors, trim, and gutters, so taking a look at those connections ahead of time helps avoid awkward transitions once the new material goes up. And since aluminum siding tends to look flat and dated after decades of wear, replacement gives you a chance to rethink your lap exposure, trim details, and color palette.

A well-chosen system can update your home's look while still respecting its original character.

Why Choose Burr Custom Exteriors?

At Burr Custom Exteriors, we've been improving homes across Connecticut since 1969. As a second-generation, family-run business based in Stratford, we bring more than five decades of hands-on exterior experience to every siding project we take on.

We're here to walk you through your options, explain what we find once the old siding comes off, and keep you in the loop from start to finish. That kind of communication counts most when older siding might be hiding surprises underneath.

Our professionals are also certified installers of James Hardie siding and have earned a James Hardie Excellence Award. Browse our project gallery to see how a siding replacement can transform a home without losing what makes it feel like yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my siding needs repair or full replacement?

If you're dealing with one or two damaged panels and a close replacement is still available, a repair might be enough. Once you start seeing chalking, dents, or loose sections across several walls, replacement usually makes more sense in the long run.

Is aluminum siding bad for my home?

Not necessarily. Plenty of homes have carried aluminum siding for decades without any structural issues. The material itself isn't the problem so much as its age, since most installations are now 50 years old or more and starting to show it.

Can you coordinate new siding with my home's trim and existing colors?

Absolutely. We take your trim, windows, and roofline into account when helping you choose a new siding profile and color, so the finished look feels intentional from the start.

Do you offer financing for siding replacement?

Yes, we do. Financing is available for homeowners who qualify, and we can go over the details when you reach out. You’re also welcome to visit our financing page for more information.

Get Help With Old Aluminum Siding

If your home's aluminum siding is decades old and getting harder to patch, we're happy to help you sort out the next step. Whether that means one more repair or a total replacement, we'll help you weigh what's best for your home and your budget.

Take a look at our service areas to confirm we cover your town, then reach out to Burr Custom Exteriors to get started with your free estimate.