How To Maintain Your Home's Siding, According To Experts

Replacing or installing new home siding is a big investment, and unless you’re in the business of flipping houses, it’s the kind of home project you hope to do once—maybe twice—in your lifetime. There are a number of factors that influence the lifespan and longevity of various siding types—from climate to the quality of the installation job—and it’s important to educate yourself on the implications of each. But even the most durable siding types such as brick and fiber cement will require some degree of upkeep and regular maintenance to ensure you get the material’s best performance. From basic cleaning to painting to regular inspection and timely repairs, understanding and implementing the maintenance best-practices for your siding type can add years to its lifespan. 

Clean Your Siding

Frequency

Cleaning your home’s siding—regardless of type—is one of those honey-do jobs where it pays to stay ahead of the curve. “A once a year cleaning is a good rule of thumb,” says Max Hare, the owner of Tidal South Pressure Washing in Charleston, “especially in parts of the South, where heat and high levels of humidity can cause mold, moss, and mildew to grow quickly. If you let it go two years or more you’ll need stronger chemicals to remove it and those chemicals can then damage the siding if you don’t know what you’re doing.” 

How To

Don’t default to a high-pressure power washer, which can do more harm than good if used incorrectly or with too much pressure easily damaging softer materials like wood but also potentially harming stronger siding types like brick and fiber cement.

For best results, most professional cleaning services prefer a softwash, a method using a low-pressure power washer and a light exterior cleaning solution in place of high-pressure to attack hard-to-remove organic growth. Hare notes that a simple soap-and-water solution, a garden hose, and a little elbow grease (okay, a lot of elbow grease) can be used instead of a cleaning solution with bleach, but expect the project to take longer, and plan on repeating the process more frequently to prevent the type of organic growth that requires a chemical solution.

Perform Regular Inspections

Your annual cleaning is also a good time to give the exterior siding of your home a good once over, says David Tudor of Tudor Building Group in Nashville. “You’re going to notice any deficiencies a lot more readily,” he says of a clean house. Check for damage such as cracks, insect infestation, and signs of rot or other water damage like warping or peeling or deteriorating paint caused by the growth of organic matter like mold and mildew. Water is the most common cause of siding damage. “It’s your number one enemy in construction,” Tudor says, so be sure to check that all doors and windows are sealed properly. “Exterior plugs are also notorious for leaking.” If you do spot any areas of concern, timely repairs can mean the difference in a small problem and a much bigger, costlier one. 

Proper Painting 

A fresh coat of paint is often your siding’s first line of defense, protecting your home (and its occupants) from the elements. A proper, well-maintained paint job is especially important for homes with wood siding, which will need to be repainted every five to ten years, depending on the local climate and immediate environment. Choose a high-quality exterior paint and promptly repair any areas of cracked or peeling paint to prevent water incursion.

• Fiber cement is designed to sidestep many of wood siding’s common pitfalls, but paint still adds a layer of protection to the more durable material—in contrast to wood, however, it can go more than twenty years without a new coat.
• For vinyl siding, opt for lighter colors to prevent fading and warping. 

Take Extra Precautions 

• Maintain gutters: A solid gutter system helps direct rainfall away from your home, protecting siding, trim, and other exterior features from mold and mildew growth, so it’s important to keep your downspouts and gutters clear.
• Be careful of plants: And no matter how charming that creeping English ivy or Confederate jasmine looks meandering up the side of your house, plants shouldn’t be allowed to grow on the side of your home—no matter the siding type—as they increase the risk for moisture damage and structural issues. 

Maintenance Tips By Siding Type

Vinyl

In the right setting, vinyl is fairly low maintenance and with proper attention can live on well past the thirty year mark. Choosing a light color for your vinyl siding means it won’t fade nearly as much in the bright sun; paler shades also absorb less heat, which helps combat the risk of warping. An annual bath will prevent mold and mildew buildup. 

Wood

A fresh coat of paint will help protect your wood siding from moisture damage—you’ll need to repaint every five to ten years, depending on your home’s environment. Keeping your gutters and downspouts clear and giving the siding a gentle bath are good ideas, too. “If you regularly clean your house, you’re going to notice any deficiencies a lot more readily than if you just leave it and just let it accumulate,” Tudor says. And timely repairs can make all the difference.

Fiber Cement

"[Fiber cement] is one of the lowest maintenance siding types,” Tudor says. As long as it’s installed properly, the only real maintenance required is a good cleaning every year or so. The Hardie team recommends using a simple garden hose and a soft cloth or telescoping brush to remove most dirt and grime. Installing fiber cement soffit and trim will further boost your siding’s lifespan. 

Brick

A mild detergent, a scrub brush, and a garden hose is all that’s required to remove dirt from aging brick. For mildew or moss, which can accumulate on the exterior surfaces of damp brick, you’ll want to try a diluted bleach solution (1 cup to 1 gallon of water). If you choose to use a pressure washer, just make sure to avoid high pressure, Tudor advises, which could further disturb any damaged brick. And sure, they’re charming, but if you’re looking to maximize longevity, plants shouldn’t be allowed to grow on the side of your brick home as they can weaken the masonry.