As the summer season draws to a close later this month, it ushers in one of the most pleasant times of the year in much of the country. Hot, humid air gives way to cooler, more palatable weather patterns, and the frequency of storm systems diminishes – making fall an ideal time of year to accomplish many of the maintenance tasks that come with homeownership before cold winter weather sets in. This fall, don’t forget to give your siding the attention it deserves while the weather allows.
In This Article
Why Does Your Siding Need Maintenance?
If you have vinyl siding, you may be reading the beginnings of this checklist and wondering if these instructions are applicable to you. After all, one of the most highly-touted features of vinyl siding is its extremely low maintenance requirements. However, while vinyl siding is, in fact, very low maintenance, you’ll still want to give it some attention once or twice a year to keep it looking its best.
To that end, the tips supplied below are mostly preventive maintenance – ways to keep extreme weather, excessive wear, and poor decisions from damaging your siding and necessitating replacement before its natural lifespan dictates. By keeping your siding looking its best and addressing potential issues before the winter season sets in, you’re avoiding more time-consuming (and more costly) maintenance issues down the road. In short, considering these Dos and Don’ts of fall siding maintenance are worth the minimal time and effort they require.
Perform an Inspection
Before you get started on any home maintenance task, it’s important to get a good look at what you’re working with. In the case of vinyl siding, that involves performing a simple inspection of your home’s exterior. If you’ve recently installed your vinyl siding, the installation company may offer inspection services – or, you may want to schedule an inspection with a local contractor. However, most homeowners can perform this relatively straightforward task on their own.
Walk around your home’s exterior and look for any signs of moisture seeping from behind your siding, including streaking on the siding itself and the foundation below. While vinyl siding will not rot or become damaged by excess moisture itself, your siding could be concealing a hidden leak. In addition, check for any siding that may have worked loose from your home’s exterior.
DON’T Put Off Repairs
If you notice any signs of loose siding or water damage, it’s important to address them now before frigid winter weather sets in. In particular, hidden water leaks behind your siding can indicate serious issues that will only become worse when the water freezes. You could experience burst pipes or even damaged siding and foundations once the water swells and freezes.
If you notice damaged areas of siding, replacing them now will help you keep your home more comfortable this winter. Ensuring your home’s exterior is properly sealed against drafts, moisture intrusion, and more can help you maximize your energy efficiency in the upcoming cooler months.
DO Clean Your Siding
While vinyl siding is low maintenance, it still requires some minimal cleaning to look its best. As such, it’s important to gently clean your siding once per year – or more often as your needs dictate. Without proper cleaning, grime can build up on the surface of your siding and cause a film that can prove difficult to remove.
Fall is an ideal time to perform this task, as much of the hot, dusty breezes and flying grass clippings have receded along with summer. For most homes, all that is needed is a garden hose and a sprayer nozzle to remove the majority of dirt and grime. For more stubborn patches, grab a bucket of warm, soapy water and use a soft-bristled scrub brush to scrub away dirt before rinsing with a hose.
DON’T Cause Additional Issues With Your Cleaning
Even for the most neglected, grimiest looking vinyl siding, the above-mentioned cleaning process is really all that’s necessary. Avoid using harsh scrubbers and scrapers, and commercial cleaners, which can damage surrounding landscaping and may even damage your siding. In particular, organic solvents, undiluted bleach, acetone, and furniture cleaners can harm your siding’s surface.
In addition, avoid the use of pressure sprayers unless necessary to remove grime from the furthest reaches of your home’s exterior. The excess pressure can force moisture underneath your siding and begin to affect the wood beneath. Similarly, spraying water upwards from the ground can pose water retention issues – when possible, aim the spray of water downward, rinsing dust down the side of the house instead of forcing it upwards and behind the siding itself.
DO Carefully Consider Exterior Accessory Placement
Unlike aluminum siding, which easily dents when bumped with a falling birdbath or banged with a snowblower, vinyl siding is not susceptible to dings and dents. However, it can crack or break when exposed to large amounts of force, especially in the winter when it is more brittle due to the cold. While the upcoming fall and winter seasons certainly aren’t peak times for lawn care and outdoor recreation compared to the summer months, you’d be surprised at how many preventable incidents occur during the cooler months.
Remove exterior accessories like patio umbrellas, furniture, birdbaths, and more when you no longer plan on using them each winter. In addition, be careful where you place items like grills, basketball hoops, and more for winter storage – be sure they cannot tilt during harsh winter storms and fall on your siding.
DON’T Overlook the Damage Caused by Heat and Landscaping
While most outdoor recreation activities cease in late fall and winter, much of your landscaping is present in some form year-round. During the fall season, it’s important to trim back any shrubbery or tree branches that make contact with your siding. Although vinyl siding is extremely durable, shrubbery and branches repeatedly brushing against its exterior during the long, cold, and often windy winter months can cause etching and other damage.
In the same sense, it’s easy to overlook the potential damage accessories like fire pits, fire tables, and propane grills can do during cooler months. While vinyl siding takes a long time to catch fire and is not likely to actually burn, too much exposure to direct heat sources can cause melting and warping. Be careful to move heat sources well away from vinyl siding to avoid this issue.
Performing these simple fall maintenance tasks – and staying vigilant throughout the months ahead – can help you avoid excessive wear and tear on your vinyl siding. By the time spring rolls around, you’ll have a well-maintained, beautiful home to begin the next warm season without issue.