Dear Dave,
What would help to restore faded aluminum siding on my RV? It’s not heavily oxidized but it is dull. What would restore the original shine and color? —Thomas, 2015 Skyline Nomad 269RK, Weekender Series
Dear Thomas,
Your rig has what we call “Mesa” sidewall outer material. That is corrugated or ribbed aluminum that is either painted, anodized with a dye coloring, or powder-coated using an positive charge to the metal and negative charge to the powder colorant. Powder coating is the most resistant to UV degradation and oxidation. However, it is the most expensive and typically is not used on Mesa sidewall units.
Cause of dull finish and discoloration
The dull finish and slight discoloration is UV degradation. Chalking is caused by oxidation. The aluminum material is typically low maintenance. However, it is not “no” maintenance and needs to be cleaned and treated periodically.
The discoloration could also be caused by harsh cleaning agents or conditioning products used to clean the roof material that run down the sides without keeping the sides wet.
You might be able to restore the finish depending on the severity of the fading. Start by cleaning the sidewall with a mild detergent to get any dirt and mold off the material. Then use a mild polishing product like Bar Keepers Friend, which you can find on Amazon here.
Another helpful product
I came across a product that was originally designed for aluminum-clad windows, garage doors, and other residential or commercial products. I found it worked well on the aluminum siding of our Forest River Salem we worked on for the RV Lifestyle & Repair Club. It’s called Everbrite and is available on Amazon here.
We used the kit with the cleaner and acid neutralizer first and then the protective UV clear coat, and it worked well.
It did not help the faded and cracked decals, but did make the white aluminum sidewall shine bright.
You might also enjoy these posts from Dave
- How can I restore my RV’s dull fiberglass end cap?
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- What is the proper exterior maintenance for a fiberglass RV?
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- Why don’t RV exteriors stay shiny, like cars?
- What is best product to restore sun-faded RV fiberglass?
DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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