Sierra Pacific exterior finishes meet one of two ratings: AAMA 2604 or AAMA 2605. Both are powder-coated. The difference comes down to how long the coating sat outside in South Florida sun before it earned the rating, and how much shine it had to keep. If you live somewhere with a lot of direct sun, this is worth reading before you pick a color.
You picked a color. Then you noticed a code next to it. AAMA 2604. Or AAMA 2605.
Most people skip that line. It looks like paperwork.
It is not paperwork. It is the part of the spec that tells you how the outside of your window was tested against sun and weather. The color list on our exterior finish options page shows a rating next to the finish. Here is what that rating means and why it changes depending on where you live.
What AAMA 2604 and 2605 Actually Are
These are performance standards. They were written by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, which is now part of the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance.
There are three of them. AAMA 2603, 2604, and 2605. Think of them as three levels of testing, from basic to the most demanding.
AAMA 2603 is the entry level. It is used mostly on interior parts or on exteriors that stay protected.
Sierra Pacific does not use 2603 on exterior cladding. Every exterior powder coat finish meets 2604 or 2605.
The finish sits on the aluminum cladding, which is the outside layer of wood-clad windows and doors. That cladding is extruded aluminum, twice as thick as roll-form cladding.
AAMA 2604
To earn this rating, a coating spends five years outdoors in South Florida. After those five years, it still has to meet limits for fading, chalking, and shine.
This level is usually met with what the coatings industry calls a super durable polyester.
Best for: Homes where the exterior gets moderate sun exposure, and projects where the finish selection is being weighed against overall budget.
AAMA 2605
Same test. Twice the time. Ten years outdoors in South Florida.
It also has to hold onto more of its original shine than 2604 does. Coatings that reach this level are usually built on a fluoropolymer resin, often a 70 percent PVDF formula.
Several door lines carry 2605 as the standard finish. Lift and Slide, Multi-Slide Plus, and Dutch doors are three of them.
Best for: High-sun and coastal exposures, and homeowners who want the longest tested finish available on the product line they have chosen.
What the Testing Measures
South Florida is not a random choice. It puts strong sun, heat, humidity, salt air, and heavy rain on a sample all at once. Very few places load a coating that hard.
The panels go outside. Then they get measured. Three things matter most.
Color Change
Fading is measured with an instrument, not an eye. The scale is called Delta E.
Both standards cap color change at 5 Delta E units. The difference is when that measurement is taken. For 2604, it is after five years. For 2605, it is after ten.
Gloss Retention
This is the shine on the surface. Coatings lose it over time.
AAMA 2604 requires the coating to hold at least 30 percent of its original gloss. AAMA 2605 requires at least 50 percent.
That gap is usually the one you can see from the curb.
Chalking
Chalking is when the surface of a coating breaks down into a fine powder. Rub it and you get residue on your hand.
Both standards limit how much chalking is allowed, using a rating scale from ASTM D4214.
Signs a Painted Exterior Finish Is Breaking Down
You do not need a lab to spot most of this.
A white or dusty residue on the frame
Wipe the exterior cladding with a dark cloth. Powder coming off is chalking.
A flat, dull surface where it used to look smooth
This is gloss loss. It tends to show up first on whatever side of the house takes the most direct afternoon sun.
Color that no longer matches side to side
South and west-facing elevations often shift before north-facing ones do. If two windows on the same house no longer look like the same color, sun exposure is usually the reason.
Why This Matters More in Some Regions
Sierra Pacific serves markets across the West and Southwest. Sun load is not the same in all of them.
Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California put long hours of intense direct sun on a west-facing wall. Colorado and Utah add elevation, which raises ultraviolet intensity even when the air feels cool.
The Pacific Northwest runs the other direction. Less direct sun, more moisture.
None of this means one rating is wrong and one is right. It means the tradeoff looks different depending on the elevation you are standing in front of. A house with deep overhangs and mature shade on the west side is a different situation than a south-facing wall of glass with nothing in front of it.
When to Make This Decision
The finish gets applied at the factory. It is not something you change later without replacing or refinishing the cladding.
So this is an order-stage decision, not a maintenance decision.
Bring it up when you are choosing colors, not after. The finish rating available to you depends on the product line, the finish, and the specific window or door. A Select Remodeler can confirm which rating applies to the product you are looking at.
If you are comparing quotes from more than one company, ask each of them which AAMA rating their exterior finish meets. It is a fair question, and the answer should be easy for them to produce.
How Can Sierra Pacific Windows Help?
Sierra Pacific manufactures the windows and doors. Every exterior powder coat finish we offer meets AAMA 2604 or AAMA 2605.
Powder coat has some practical advantages over liquid coatings. It goes on denser and thicker. It resists scratching and marring better. It carries virtually no VOCs and no solvents.
Warranty coverage on exterior coatings is not the same for both ratings. The terms are set out in the Sierra Pacific limited warranty documents, and that is the place to read them. Which document applies depends on the product and when it was manufactured.
Installation is separate. Select Remodelers are independent businesses. They are responsible for their own work and their own scheduling, pricing, and timelines. The program connects homeowners with remodelers who meet defined standards for working with Sierra Pacific products. It does not manage the project for you.
What Should You Do Next?
Pull up the exterior finish options page and find the finish you are drawn to. Check which rating sits next to it.
Then bring that question to your Select Remodeler along with two more: which elevations of your house take the most direct sun, and what is available on the product line you are considering.
That conversation is where the answer comes from. Not from a chart.
FAQ
Question 1: What is the difference between AAMA 2604 and AAMA 2605?
Answer 1: Both are performance ratings for factory applied coatings on architectural aluminum. AAMA 2604 requires five years of outdoor exposure testing in South Florida. AAMA 2605 requires ten years. AAMA 2605 also holds the coating to a higher gloss retention standard.
Question 2: Which AAMA rating do Sierra Pacific exterior finishes meet?
Answer 2: Sierra Pacific exterior powder coat finishes meet either AAMA 2604 or AAMA 2605. Which one applies depends on the product line and the finish selected. Several door lines carry 2605 as standard.
Question 3: Does the AAMA rating matter more in a sunny climate?
Answer 3: Sun exposure is one of the main things these tests measure. The exposure testing happens in South Florida because of its combination of strong sun, heat, humidity, and salt air. In high-sun states, the rating is worth reviewing before you pick a finish. Your Select Remodeler can confirm what is available for a given product.
