Your home’s siding is one of the most important components that must be properly cared for on a routine basis, otherwise you could be putting the look of your home at risk. Luckily, most forms of siding are relatively easy to keep clean. This is something you’re going to want to do if you want to keep the siding on your home in good condition.
After all, most homeowners install vinyl siding or any other forms of this protective layering as a means for holding the elements back from inflicting any damage on the framework of your home while helping to keep you and your family comfortable indoors.
But the older your siding gets, the more likely it will begin to show evidence of wear and tear. You can help to reduce the effects of both by making an effort to follow these important siding maintenance tips, courtesy of Raleigh’s premier siding installer.
The Right Know-How
The first step towards maintaining your siding for the fall season is to know what type of siding you have installed on your home. Not all siding has the same maintenance needs, so any steps you might take for cleaning or repairing one type of siding material may not be bet for another. That’s why you really must know what you have on your home and what steps must be taken to care for it correctly.
The easiest type of siding material to maintain is vinyl as it doesn’t take much effort on your part at all. But just because vinyl siding needs next to nothing in the way of maintenance does not necessarily mean that the same goes for other types of siding like aluminum or wood.
Consult Your Contractor
One of the best methods for understanding what needs to be done with respect to care and maintenance of your siding is to contact your contractor to get an idea of what needs to be done. As we’ve mentioned, vinyl siding is very easy to clean, requiring little more than some warm water and soap or a mixture of water and vinegar.
For other materials, you may need to a little elbow grease and additional tools such as hoses or brushes to really get at the grime and mildew.
Damage Inspection
Since your siding is tasked with protecting your home from so many impacts, you can bet that it will take the brunt of many of them to the extent where visible signs of damage may start to arise. If you live in a region of the country that sees extreme heat from direct sunlight or heavy storms and high winds, you should inspect the condition of your siding with regularity.
This means checking for cracks, fractures, warping, holes, any gaps between your siding and the home, anything that displays a clear deviation from what is supposed to be normal in terms of appearance and structural integrity. Conducting this inspection early and often will allow you more time to get repairs done or to replace it entirely with newer, more durable siding.
