You can use any high quality 100 percent acrylic exterior paint. The word 'latex' is really used generically these days. They mean 100 percent acrylic. I did not know that latex primers were bad actually. I have to assume that primers designed for use on metal have no ammonia but I can't say for sure. Here is what I did on the house I sprayed about 2 years ago...which still looks fantastic by the way. I used a Grahams system, their Aqua Borne Corrosion Resistant Primer and Finish (latex) followed by their 100 percent acrylic Soft Gloss exterior paint. I like the soft gloss sheen because it most closely mimics the intended sheen of real aluminum siding. Semi gloss is too much. There are plenty of good choices for topcoats out there...most manufacturers make a high end acrylic exterior satin or soft gloss or low luster...all those sheens would be appropriate. SW Superpaint, C2's Exterior Eggshell and BM's Aura come to mind. Personally, I think that aluminum siding looks best sprayed and it's true that you don't want to leave the primer for too long before you topcoat. I set up two sprayers, prime one side, let the primer dry and finish that side then move on to the next side. Sometimes, if there is no raw metal exposed or the siding is not in that bad of shape, you can skip the primer and just paint it. If skipping primer, then I would use some Emulsabond in the paint to help with adhesion.

I would do a muddy green color with a wood finish entry door and some cheerful landscaping. I would also find some bricks similar to your home's and line the edge of your driveway. I think these extra details will take your home to another level beyond a fresh coat of paint. Also, good on you for surprising your wife! Good luck!

If full replacement with aluminum siding is $20,000 and your preferred alternative is more expensive, I am confused as to why/how the insurance company can legally justify paying you less than $20,000 no matter what you put on your house. Insurance laws vary from state to state, but refusing to pay legitimate costs to fix your house because you prefer a siding upgrade over aluminum seems punitive to me. Try calling the state insurance commissioner’s office and find out if they are allowed to withhold the remaining $7,000 if you elect a more expensive fix and pay the excess yourself, and if so, why. If your first choice for replacement costs $13,000, fixes your house and is what you want, that does not sound like a problem to me.

Thanks Windows on Washington. I kind of feel like if we're going to pay a premium price for Fleetwood, it would be silly for me to cover it up with wood on the inside. It would probably be cost prohibitive also. Since this window will be in the front of the house, I forgot to mention that we'll also have 3 operable windows, a side light (door height window next to our front door) that we'll also have to purchase to match this corner window. I went to a window store today and mentioned Kolbe since they do offer a corner window (assembled in the field by a glass shop). The sales guy said I should check out Windsor since he said their windows were pretty comparable to Kolbe and they too offer a corner window. Are there and fiberglass clad windows which I'm guessing may not be the best option for this window since it's West facing and gets a lot of sun... Thanks, heather