Say Goodbye to Grime: Your Ultimate Guide to Siding Maintenance
It’s a sad fact, but many homeowners often overlook siding maintenance until it’s too late. Most think of it as something that’ll take too much time—or money—so they just ignore it. And you’ve probably heard horror stories about the consequences of neglecting maintenance—dirt and grime buildup, mold growth, and water damage that costs an arm and leg in repairs.
Regularly maintaining your siding can help extend its lifespan, prevent costly repairs in the future, and even add to your home’s value. This comprehensive guide covers why maintaining your siding is important and maintenance strategies for each siding type.
Why You Can’t Just “Wing It” With Siding Maintenance
Your home’s exterior takes a beating from the elements. The sun, wind, snow, hail, and rain, it’s a never-ending battle against Mother Nature. Just as you need to regularly maintain your car with oil changes and tune-ups, your siding needs regular maintenance for a few reasons:
Dirt Doesn’t Magically Disappear
Your siding isn’t like a self-cleaning oven—it won’t get rid of dirt and grime without you doing something about it. Dirt will accumulate over time and, if not removed, can cause staining, mold growth, and wood rot.
Most experts recommend cleaning your siding 1-2 times per year (more often in areas with lots of trees or humid climates). Even if your siding appears clean, don’t let the illusion of cleanliness fool you. You can often find dirt lodged deep in the ridges, cracks, and pores of your siding.
Neglecting Maintenance is Your Wallet’s Worst Nightmare
Ignoring your siding for too long can lead to water damage and rot, which will require immediate repairs or replacement—and that’s where things get expensive. Angi estimates that siding repairs can range from $5,572 to $17,531, with most homeowners spending an average of $11,451.
Now, that’s some serious cash and not the kind of surprise you want to see on your bank statement. Regular maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your siding so that you won’t have to worry about replacing it prematurely or dealing with costly repairs.
Enhances Your Home’s Curb Appeal and Value
Curb appeal is more than just making sure your lawn looks nice or adding a few potted plants to the front porch—it also includes maintaining a clean exterior. Think of your siding as the icing on the cake—it’s the finishing touch that turns your home from drab to fab.
This is especially important if you’re looking to sell anytime soon—you want potential buyers to fall in love with the look of your home as soon as they pull up into the driveway. They won’t mind spending top dollar if your house looks like a million bucks.
Cleaning Tools You Need to Maintain Your Siding
As with any home maintenance project, such as roofing repairs, you need the right tools to maintain your siding.
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Maintenance Strategies for Every Type of Siding
Your maintenance strategy will depend on the type of siding you have. Vinyl, fiber cement, wood, and metal siding all have unique maintenance requirements:
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is becoming an increasingly popular choice for homeowners due to its low maintenance qualities and affordability. It can withstand outside elements such as snow, rain, and the sun’s damaging UV rays for years with minimal upkeep.
Maintaining clean vinyl siding is easy; use a pressure washer and a soft bristled brush to remove dirt and mold. Use soapy water to help loosen the tough stains. Rinse with a garden hose and inspect your siding for cracked boards, loose mortar, and discoloration.
Wood Siding
Wood siding is known for its beauty and warmth but requires more maintenance than other types of siding material. You’ll need to inspect your wood siding twice yearly and look for signs of rot, mold, insect damage, and peeling on mortar joints.
To clean wood siding, use a pressure washer with a fan-tip nozzle on the lowest setting. Use a mild detergent, stain remover, and bleach solution (mixed four parts water and one part bleach) to remove dirt. Start scrubbing from the top and work your way down. Rinse and let it dry before applying a wood stain or sealant to protect against water damage, fading, and UV rays.
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is highly resistant to moisture, insects, and fire and withstands harsh elements. It requires low maintenance and is easy to clean with a power washer, mild detergent, and a soft bristled brush. Inspect your siding for chips, hairline cracks, peeling paint, and mold and contact a professional siding contractor for repairs.
Metal Siding
Metal siding’s clean look and exceptional durability make it an attractive choice for many homeowners. Like vinyl and fiber cement siding, it’s easy to maintain and clean. Power washing is the best way to dislodge dirt and debris. Wear eye protection and other protective gear when working with power washers to prevent accidents. Look out for rust, corrosion, and dents to maintain a durable siding.
Stucco Siding
Stucco siding is known for its distinctive style, energy efficiency, and durability. It creates a clean, contemporary look for any home’s exterior. Stucco siding’s preventative maintenance requires a pressure or power washer, soapy water, and mold remover.
Avoid streaking and uneven cleaning by moving the washer in a circular motion for a clean siding. Spray your home’s siding with a garden hose to rinse off the dirt. Check for cracks, holes, and other damages and call in a professional to handle repairs.
Leave the Dirty Work to the Pros
Maintaining your siding helps improve your home’s structural integrity and energy efficiency and keeps it looking beautiful and fresh all year round. Proper siding maintenance takes time, energy, and patience, so it’s best to leave the job to the professionals. When selecting a roofing company, read previous customer reviews to understand their customer service. Remember to shop around to get the best deals on siding maintenance.