Maintaining Your Siding: Tips for Keeping It Clean and Well-Maintained
Apr 18, 2024When maintaining your home’s exterior, you must find a way to keep your siding clean and tidy. As the most significant front-facing part of your home, siding can make your home look clean or dirty, dreary, and unappealing.
As it turns out, there are several things you can do as a homeowner to keep your siding looking as new as the day it was installed. The good news is that many of these siding maintenance tips can be performed by you with very little monetary investment.
1st Choice Windows and Siding is one of the area’s premier siding experts, so you know we won’t steer you wrong in keeping your house clean and presentable. That said, here are several best practices for siding maintenance.
The Value of Keeping Your Siding Clean
First impressions matter. If someone who has never been to your home before comes upon it to see dirt, mud, or mold growing on your siding, it could make them feel like you don’t know how to maintain it.
Clean siding is more than just making your home look pleasing. It can enhance your property’s curb appeal, making it more attractive to potential buyers or visitors.
Regular maintenance also prevents costly repairs by addressing issues like mold, mildew, and rot before they escalate.
Clean siding also protects your home from harsh weather conditions. As a significant part of your home’s exterior, you want your siding to last as long as possible.
Of course, there’s also the issue of pride – a clean home can show that you care deeply about it. A home that you take good care of will take care of you!
How to Maintain Siding
Maintaining your home’s siding is more than just rinsing it with a garden hose or applying some protective coating. With this siding care advice, you can have your home look good as new in no time.
1. Regular Cleaning
Think about cleaning your home’s siding like you would clean your car. A scrub brush, cleaning fluid, and a garden hose can do the trick. However, invest in a power washer if you want things to go quicker. If you’re keeping your siding clean correctly, plan to perform this necessary maintenance biannually.
2. Inspect and Repair
When cleaning your siding, take the opportunity to perform a routine inspection. Look for warped, dented, or even torn panels. You can do simple repairs. However, if you’re looking at more significant repair work, you may need to call a professional.
3. Trim Back Bushes and Trees
As part of a broader set of siding care advice, doing some yard work is ideal, too. Bushes and trees can prevent moisture buildup, reduce pest access, and minimize the risk of scratches or damage from overhanging branches.
4. Apply Protective Coating
Keeping siding clean can be quite the process. However, you can help the process by working on the backend. Applying a protective coating or sealant to your siding enhances its durability, resistance to UV rays, and ability to repel moisture.
5. Address with Preventative Measures
Perhaps the best set of cleaning siding tips includes work you can do to ensure there are no issues with your siding as it is being installed. Install gutter guards to prevent debris buildup and water overflow, which can lead to siding damage and water infiltration. Ensure downspouts direct water away from the foundation and siding.
Need Help? Call 1st Choice!
1st Choice Windows and Siding is the area’s premier choice in siding work. If your siding has seen better days, rely on us for our siding replacement services. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you. We look forward to hearing from you soon.