You probably don’t give much thought to your home’s siding, but with proper care, you can help your siding last longer. When it’s in good shape, your siding maximizes curb appeal, helps maintain the structural integrity of the building, and saves you money on replacement siding.
Want to learn more about how to keep your siding clean and lasting longer? Continue to read below!
Ways to Keep Siding in Top Shape
Regardless of what type of siding you have, follow these basic tips to keep it in top shape.
1. Check for Damage and Make Minor Repairs
Water damage is the most common reason for siding to begin deteriorating. Places where siding butts up against windows, doors, and corner moldings are particularly vulnerable.
Every few months, you can take a close look at your siding and check for signs of minor damage. Cracked caulk is a common one. Scrape away old caulk and replace it with outdoor-rated caulk of the same color. Wait for a dry day when the temperature exceeds 65 degrees to apply caulk.
2. Clean the Siding
Dirt and mold can shorten the lifespan of your siding. In this way, removing debris and microbial growth from your siding once a year can help it last longer.
All types of siding benefit from periodic cleaning. To do this, mix one-half cup trisodium phosphate per gallon of water. Scrub 10-foot sections of siding with a soft-bristle brush dunked in this solution, while working from the top down and rinsing often. Use a sturdy ladder to reach higher sections of siding.
3. Keep Plants Away
When tree branches and shrubs touch the siding, they send moisture into tiny cracks and crevices in the siding. To lessen the amount of water that comes in contact with your siding, you can trim the branches and back of scrubs. For the best protection, make sure there’s at least a few feet between the foliage and siding.
Signs Your Siding Needs to be Replaced
Even the most cared for siding can’t last forever. For this reason, you should know the telltale signs of a faulty siding.
1. Blistering
Exposure to high heat or moisture can cause bubbling and blistering. Get to the root of the problem and make sure it doesn’t happen again before you pay to replace your siding.
2. Chipping, Denting or Cracking
These are signs of hail damage. If cracks or dents go all the way through the siding, this is evidence that it no longer acts as a protective barrier against the elements.
3. Loose Siding
Whether caused by wind damage, a settling foundation or shoddy installation, loose siding does little to protect your home from the elements.
4. Wildlife Damage
Whether woodpeckers have chipped away entire sections of siding, a squirrel has started nesting in a hole near the ground, or you see wasps congregating around a small opening, replace your sliding immediately.
5. Dry Rot
Fungal growth fueled by moisture can rot wood siding away. Sections of softened siding become visible and the paint may start to peel away. Not only is this condition unsightly, but dry rot also weakens the siding and may penetrate into your building’s wood structure where it can cause serious damage.
6. Peeling Paint on the Interior
If you ignore problems associated with dry rot long enough, you may begin to notice interior paint peeling off of bubbling walls. This is your last chance to act before you risk jeopardizing your home’s structural integrity.
7. You’re Ready for a Change
Perhaps your siding is an outdated color that does not fit well in your modern home. Maybe you’re simply ready to replace your high-maintenance siding with something more trouble free.
If you require siding replacement in Northern Virginia, please call WISA Solutions to schedule siding replacement today! We are a design-build firm located in Lorton who can provide you with beautiful siding that offers curb appeal and style.
Want to learn more? Click here to contact us online or visit us in person at our Lorton, VA showroom!