The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Aluminum windows glass replacement and paint stripping

I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT A MID CENTURY MODERN HOME WITH ALUMINUM WINDOWS THAT ARE PAINTED IN BROWN. CAN THE PAINT BE STRIPPED TO THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM? (SILVER) WHAT SHOULD I USE AND CAN THE GLASS BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING BETTER INSULATED?

ALVIN VALLEY
ARCHITECT - KINNELON, New Jersey
2007

You can use any proprietary solvent based paint stripper. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2007

---

You can use strippers sold at most home improvement stores but be aware that it is going to be time consuming. After you have the aluminum back to unpainted it will probably not be shiny. Even if it were it would not remain that way unless the windows were originally anodized and that film has not been damaged (highly unlikely). Bare aluminum will oxidize to a dull silver/gray color with the possible formation of some whitish oxides.
Replaceing the glass with a higher E material is not really going to do much good. Aluminum is an excellent conductor of both electricity and heat. The window frames will radiate the heat of your home to the outside and in the summer will radiate the warmth of the outside to the inside. I would seriously consider speaking to window contractors to locate or have fabricated modern windows which would replicate the orininals as closely as possible if you are trying to maintain a visual appearance.

Gene Packman
process supplier - Great Neck, New York
2007