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The siding on your house is more than just a cosmetic feature. It is one of several layers of protection that shield your home from the elements and increases energy efficiency. When you properly maintain your home’s siding, it will improve its lifespan and keep its original curb appeal.
If you’re planning on putting your home on the market, a potential buyer’s first impression of your home will be when they are pulling in the driveway. Make sure you blow them away with great looking siding. Not to mention, fresh new siding increases your home’s value.
In this article we will discuss the importance of maintaining your siding and a few DIY maintenance tips.
Benefits of Maintaining Your Home's Siding
Maintaining your home's siding offers a wide range of benefits, from increased market value to a well-protected home. Let's take a deeper dive into the benefits.
Prolongs Use and Protection
Keeping your siding clean and free of damage will increase the life-span of your siding. With consistent maintenance you will be able to keep the siding clear of debris and any pests that could be lurking in the holes or cracks of siding.
Increased Energy Efficiency
Siding and insulation in your home creates multiple barriers against the outside elements. This helps your home retain the air from your heating and cooling systems, regulating the environment inside.
If you notice higher energy bills and are aware that your siding is in bad shape; this could very well be the reason for the increase.
Reduced Risk of Water Damage
The exterior of your home is crafted with multiple barriers specifically to keep moisture out. This includes: layering, sheeting, flashing, house-wrap, caulking, siding, and trim. You cannot have any without the other and expect to keep moisture out. All of these things are pertinent to upkeep.
Increased Home Value
Indeed! A well-maintained and clean exterior can significantly increase the value of your home. Potential buyers are swayed by first impressions, and if the first thing they see is a run-down exterior, they may be hesitant to buy it out of fear of the other repairs that may be needed to make it a home.
Improved Curb Appeal
Not only does well-maintained siding increase your home's value, it always greatly increases your home's curb appeal. And as we mentioned before, potential buyers will get their first impression the second they arrive.
And if you're not selling, you'll just have the best-looking house on the block, and that's satisfying enough, if you know what we mean!
DIY Siding Maintenance
So what can you do to keep your siding clean and healthy? Let's take a look.
Inspect your siding regularly for any signs of damage or wear. If you find any damage, call your local exterior contractor to assess the damage and develop a plan to repair it.
Keep your siding clean! Do this regularly every 6 months, sooner if need be.
Find a new spot for your grill. If you keep your grill close to the house, remove it as the siding cannot withstand these close open flame temperatures. This will cause the siding to warp or melt.
If you find any spots with mold or mildew, you can easily wash it away with vinyl siding cleaner. But if there's too much mildew or mold, you'll need to call your trusted local exterior contractor immediately to assess the damage.
Maintaining your siding is a critical part of homeownership. By following the advice in this post, you can help to keep your siding looking its best and protecting your home for years to come. If you do not have the time or are not confident in your ability to maintain your siding, your local exterior contractors can do it for you. Preventive maintenance may cost money now, but it will save you more in the long run.