Vinyl Siding Maintenance

How To Properly Care For Your Vinyl Siding

At Wright Siding Co, we are passionate about what we do, which is why we want to continue to share our knowledge and experience with you, our valued client, long after the installation of your vinyl siding is complete.

As longtime supporters of siding and its many benefits, we pledge that vinyl and specialty siding for your home is durable and engineered for life without having to break the bank. But while it is low-cost AND low-maintenance in comparison to other options, it still requires a little love.

Through a bit of routine cleaning and care, you could prevent issues that might require costly replacements from ever occurring. Removing the elements that shorten the life of your siding, like dirt, mildew, and heat, means that you can enjoy trouble-free and beautiful siding on your house for many more years to come.

Boost your curb appeal by maintaining your vinyl siding! Here’s how:

Cleaning Your House Siding

No matter what type of siding you have, it will always benefit from cleaning at least once a year. If you allow the dirt, grime, and mildew to accumulate throughout the life of your siding, then the rest of your house will begin to look grimy and worn down. Plus, it will be all the more difficult to scrub off as time passes. Here’s how to annually clean your siding:

• Before cleaning — Take a look at your siding and make any small repairs. Since you are cleaning with soap and water, you need to prevent moisture infiltration which can lead to mold or dry rot starting from the inside out. Also, be sure to cover any nearby plants or other landscaping with a tarp so that it is not affected by runoff.
• Choose your soap — There are many types of cleaning products that are safe to use on your vinyl siding. For general cleaning, you can use a bucket of warm water with mild soap in it, like detergent or a trisodium phosphate (TSP) substitute. For tough stains, use a heavier duty cleanser and spray with a hose.
• Begin washing — Try to divide your siding into 10 foot sections to tackle at a time. This could take up to a full day depending on the size of your house but will ultimately be well worth it when you have a beautiful, spotless home. You will need a sponge or soft bristle brush, a bucket, and a hose. Then start washing! There should be no need to scrub too hard unless it is a stubborn stain. Start with the top sections by using a long-handled scrub brush to extend your reach, and then work your way down to avoid having to clean up after sections that you just washed. Finally, rinse it off with clear running hose water.

You can also power wash your siding for a powerful clean that also efficiently removes even the spiders and other insects that like to live in between the panels. However, you should never try to do this by yourself because there are many potential errors that can occur if you’re not careful. Because of the forceful jet that may be hard to control, you could end up stripping the paint, loosening the caulk, gouging the softwoods or eating through the mortar. Not to mention, the water may shoot under the horizontal lap joints and cause mold and dry rot.

By hiring a professional to power wash your siding, you can avoid these issues and, more importantly, prevent water penetration beneath the joints and seams around the window and doors. They are extremely cautious around electrical fixtures so that no harm comes to you or your beautifully clean home!

Regularly Inspect Vinyl Siding

Be sure to regularly inspect your siding for pests, cracks, and moisture-related issues. While vinyl siding would never be the only cause of mold or wood rot, it may conceal the problem from the naked eye. This is why you should always look out for things that could cause problems before they ever even occur. For example, cracks, gaps, and loose pieces leave your house susceptible to water infiltration. If you notice one of these problems, you can use a sealant or a color-matched caulk to help keep moisture from entering the wood of your house and causing damage to it.

Other things to look out for:

• Peeling or chipped paint
• Crumbling mortar joints
• Cracked caulk
• Signs of termites or other pests

Remove Any Mold or Mildew

Look out for black stains that are difficult to scrub off. Try to put a little bit of diluted bleach on the area and if it disappears, it is most likely mildew. Do not let it go idle. Rid your house of mildew or mold as soon as possible by using an all-purpose cleaner or a homemade solution of 1 cup of vinegar and a gallon of water. Be sure to protect your eyes and plants from splashing. Finally, rinse it with clean running water.

Avoid Hitting Vinyl Siding

The great thing about vinyl siding is that it won’t wear down with age the same as wood or become dented, but you can still crack or puncture it. Be mindful of where you park things like bicycles and lawnmowers. Also, trim any trees or shrubbery that have the potential to mar your siding. If any part of your siding breaks or cracks, then you must replace it before it causes any problems.

Avoid Painting Your Home’s Siding

Painting your siding can be done, of course, but it’s a laborious task that might not be worth the trouble. Firstly, you will need to continue painting it periodically the same way that you would have to do for other home exterior options, which one of the great benefits of vinyl siding is that you can avoid painting in the first place. Also, if it is done wrong or in a darker color, it can cause the pieces to warp in high temperatures or sag beyond repair. Finally, many manufacturers will sometimes void the warranty if you paint over it.

If you want to change the color of your siding, simply replacing it will be the better option in the long run.

Keep Direct Heat Away

Vinyl siding has a low melting point and open flames can cause a lot of unsightly damage. Keep things like barbecue grills, patio torches, and other sources of direct heat at a safe distance. Two to three feet away from the wall should be sufficient to avoid any harm.

Contact Wright Siding Co.!

If you need help maintaining your home’s siding and would like a professional’s touch, contact Wright Siding Co. for the installation and continued maintenance of vinyl and specialty siding.

Our siding options carry a limited lifetime labor warranty for the original homeowner, and also a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty, which can even transfer onto the next owner. Call us today for a FREE estimate to help with the maintenance that will keep your siding beautiful for many more years!