Your home’s exterior siding is something that you depend on not to demand too much upkeep from you. But like any other feature or part of your house it would still require a little preventative maintenance. Doing so can extend your siding for around 50 years or so. Now that is worth a little effort, right?
Cleaning your home’s siding only means you have to remove dirt and mildew that can affect its lifespan. If you want to know how you can extend the life of your exterior siding, here are some pointers.
Now you must know that thoroughly cleaning your home’s siding would take longer than you probably expect. In fact, it just might take a huge chunk of your weekend, so make sure you allot sufficient time to complete this task. The good news however, is that you only need to do this at least once a year! Here is how you do it:
- Have a bucket of warm, soapy water. You can make a solution of half a cup of trisodium phosphate with a gallon of water. You can buy TSP at most hardware stores and home improvement shops.
- Be strategic and divide your exterior siding into sections. Scrub every section with a brush (soft-bristled) that is attached to a long handle. You might need to use a ladder, especially if you have a two-storey house.
- It is possible that there are some spots or stains that are really stubborn. Those are most probably mildew. You can try dabbing the spots with diluted bleach ad if the spot dirt disappears, it is definitely mildew. One part bleach to four parts water should do the trick. Make sure you protect your eyes as well as any plants nearby from any splashes!
- Once you are done cleaning, you may want to inspect your siding for any sign of damage. You have to be on the lookout for chipped or peeling paint, as well as cracked boards if you have wood siding. For stucco, check for cracks and chips. Of course, if what you have is quality vinyl siding like what George Kent Home Improvement offers, then you probably won’t find damages anytime soon.
- If you are handy with a power washer, then by all means, use that. However, if you are not that confident with the tool, you would probably be better off if you rent a professional to do it.
Cleaning your siding is among those things that could easily be overlooked because you rarely do it. However, completely neglecting your siding may take its toll so make sure that you do an annual preventative maintenance to prolong its life!
