Siding Maintenance Basics

Because a home's siding is more than just a covering from the elements, it needs special care. Curb appeal, home value, and protection from Mother Nature are all tasks that siding preforms on a daily basis. Without proper annual maintenance, siding can easily become worn, dilapidated, and damaged, causing curb appeal to slip, home values to drop, and even worse--repairs may need to be made. Use these siding maintenance basics to keep your siding looking good throughout the years.

Vinyl
As the saying goes, "vinyl is final." But whoever came up with that saying never had to maintain it themselves. Vinyl siding needs the least maintenance of all siding materials, but it still needs to be cleaned every six months or year.

A basic spray applicator and a scrub brush with a telescopic pole can work wonders on keeping siding free from dirt and grime. Fill the applicator with water and an oxygenated bleach product to remove tough stains. Be sure to never use bleach or other caustic chemicals on vinyl. Sunlight damage is exponentially increased when bleach is introduced to vinyl.

Wood and composites
One of the oldest and most common forms of siding material, wood and wood composite siding is the natural and environmentally friendly way to cover the exterior of your home. Wood siding can be installed clear and covered with a water sealant, or it can be caulked and painted.

Whether it's clear or painted, wood siding can be hosed down and cleaned with a soft deck brush, like the Surehold Deck Brush. Annual coats of water sealant or paint may be necessary in siding areas that are exposed to long hours of sunlight. One thing to remember is never use a pressure washer to clean wood siding. It can easily destroy the integrity of the wood grain and introduce rot, mold, and mildew into the wood.

Stucco and cementitious fiberboard
Certainly the most durable and toughest of all siding products, stucco or cement fiberboard is made from Portland and other aggregates. It is typically painted with a concrete stain or paint, but a colored finish can be added to the concrete mix directly, to create a permanent and nearly maintenance-free siding color.

Painted cementitious siding should be treated with care, as aging paints can easily be scraped off the siding when cleaning with a powerful jet of water or stiff-bristled brush. A soft brush or light pressure washing is a great way to keep cementitious siding products clean. Touch up paint and caulk as needed to remove any heavy stains or blemishes.