Section IV - Siding Maintenance
I. Importance of Siding
II. Styles of Siding
III. Materials used in Siding
IV. Siding maintenance
V. Siding Rating Systems/ Specs Aluminum is easily maintained in the first few years. After that the color may fade or paint may peel, blister or crack. Aluminum should be watched for dents, which should either be repainted or the panel replaced. Aluminum may need to be cleaned to remove dirt, grass, or mildew. Pressure washing aluminum is possible but should first be done with plain water on low pressure. If low pressure doesn't seem to be making the area clean do a higher power test wash on an area that is less visible. The test wash is important because some pressure washers create enough pressure to break a 2 x 4. It is best to use a biodegradable detergent and hose it off with a light spray. Brick and stone veneers may develop spalling. That means that the brick or stone or mortar may fall out or crumble. This is especially likely to occur where wall meets wall or at the bottom of the wall. One way to slow spalling is to clear any debris from underneath the lowest course of the veneer. Under this bottom course are weep holes that allow moisture to escape from behind the veneer. Another way to help prevent spalling is keeping vines off siding. As vines grow and spread on siding they actually do 2 things.they hold on to the mortar making it weak and they trap moisture next to the house. If cracks or spalling occurs it should be patched or replaced as soon as possible. Mortarless brick will not have the problems that a brick and mortar siding does. Composition board or hardboard must have a good deal of TLC, especially in wet climates. Composition board must be repainted more often than other wood sidings because it doesn't hold paint as well. If left exposed too long, the board will absorb moisture, expand and bow out. Unlike solid wood, which will shrink after it has expanded, hardboard will not. It may actually disintegrate. Make sure sprinklers and leaky downspouts don't wet the hardboard. You should always maintain 6-8 inches of clearance between the ground and the lowest board. Inspect the joints, the nails and the ends of planks. Caulk around cracked joints. Make sure nails haven't broken the surface finish or water will seep in. Choosing a wood that is appropriate to your area is important to consider before you make your purchase. Some birds, like woodpeckers, have been known to punch away at the sides of homes. Should birds make holes in the wood they must be filled or replaced. Plywood siding can expand and contract at different rates than the framing it is attached to. This expanding and contracting at different rates can cause nails to pull out, joints to pull apart and siding may fall off. Keep the surface finishes fresh or plywood siding will deteriorate, absorb moisture and warp. Once the warping starts, the grooves in the plywood will split allowing even more water to penetrate until the siding actually pushes away from the under ply. Stucco should be watched for cracks. All loose materials should be scraped from the cracks before caulking. Only use a paintable caulk. Vinyl is easy to maintain. From time to time vinyl will have to be washed to eliminate dirt, dust, grass stains, mold or mildew. For heavier stains, vinyl siding can be cleaned with a soft cloth, or soft bristled toothbrush (if the surface is textured). Some of the more common cleaners that can be used on vinyl include: Fantastic®, Murphy's Oil Soap®, Lestoil®, Windex® and Soft Scrub®. Since vinyl and its accessories will melt when exposed to significant fire or flame, owners of vinyl siding should take care to keep grills and combustible materials, such as mulch and dry leaves, away from the siding. Wood planking will have to be painted. Again, it depends on the climate how long between paintings. Wood shakes and shingles
These should not be installed close to the ground where moisture might wick up behind them. If there is soil build up around the bottom of the wood siding it should be removed. Shakes and shingles will fade over time. And may fade unevenly depending on landscaping or nearness to other homes that might cause partial shade. Shakes and shingles can be painted or stained to help preserve them. Depending on the climate, painting may have to be done every 5-7 years and staining may have to be done every 3 years. Next Section. I. Importance of Siding — Protection of frame from the elements and pests, health i.e. mold II. Styles of Siding — clapboard, shingles, shakes III. Materials used in Siding — Pros and Cons of the many materials: vinyl, cedar, aluminum etc. IV. Siding maintenance — power washing, denting, painting V. Siding Rating Systems/ Specs — profile, thickness, windload resistance
Are you ready for your Free Insider's Guide and Professional Quote?
Once you submitted your request for a Free No Obligation Siding Quote; you will be able to download the Free Insider’s Guide to Siding [in Adobe PDF format]. Your quote will be received by a licensed local home improvement professional in your area, who will contact you. With the Insider's Guide and Professional Siding Quote you will get the chance to learn even more about your siding options ...Take me There
|
