Maintenance tips for wood siding- Northshore Siding

Maintenance Tips

Caulk any overdriven nail heads.
Check for missing or cracked caulking and freshen up the caulking every few years prior to painting.
Always use a paintable caulk. DO NOT use silicone caulk if you intend to paint the caulk.
Paint the siding and trims every 5 to 7 years.
Caulk small splits in the siding. Replace any badly damaged boards.
Use care if using a pressure washer and / or bleach. Both of these methods can lead to damage of wood fibers.

Soil, grime and chalk are easy to remove with soap and water. Especially stubborn stains can usually be removed with cleaners like Fantastic™, Formula 409™, and Simple Green™.
When you clean vinyl siding, work from the bottom to the top to reduce streaking.
Barbeques and combustible items should be kept a safe distance from vinyl siding.

Check the siding for mold, moss and fungus growth annually.
See recommendations by manufacturer of the siding for proper chemical to use in order to kill the mold spores.
Check for damaged or rotted siding annually and repair/replace as needed.
Maintain a minimum of 6 inch clearance between the ground and the siding material. Wood materials on the home touching the ground or the beauty bark can attract wood destroying insects.
Make sure that all door, windows and other protrusions in the wall are protected by metal flashing. If not, install flashing where needed.
Maintain plenty of clearance between the home and any trees or bushes. Trees that are touching the siding material, trim or roof can cause damage as they move back and forth with the wind.
Bushes can hold moisture against the siding and cause it to rot or promote mold or mildew.
Make sure any sprinkler heads are not spraying water directly on building.