While the siding on your home is a protective layer to the interior of your home, it is important to protect your siding from external elements. When your siding is properly installed, it will help keep your home warm and dry during the cold winter months. It will also help keep your home cool and dry during the hot or rainy months of summer. With rain and dampness, there is a challenge for the siding to protect the interior of your home. Without proper siding maintenance, water damage can take over your siding and cause vulnerable spots allowing entry to your home for bugs, pests, moisture, and other harmful materials. It is important to practice proper siding maintenance to keep away water damage.
Keep Plants Pruned and Trimmed Back from Your Siding
While plants and trees add a lot to the appearance of the landscaping of a home, they can also be a tool for causing water damage to your siding. It is crucial to keep plants and trees near your home siding well maintained. It is important that none of your landscaping is flush up against your siding. You will not want anything laying or scraping against the side of your home. Along with the damage caused by branches and twigs it can also trap rain and moisture. The collection of water in these areas can eat through the protective layer of your siding over time.
Check Your Sprinklers Regularly to Protect Your Siding
It is a common occurrence for sprinklers to get jammed, adjusted, or stuck in a position over time. This is very common in the spring after being dormant for several months. You will want to check your sprinklers from season to season to make sure they are not spraying the siding of your home. The water from the sprinklers can build up moisture in the siding of your home. This can cause water damage, encourage the build-up of mold, and create areas that attract bugs and other creatures. Checking your sprinklers are addressing only lawn and plants and not your home with their spray will help save you money in both your water bill and siding replacement or repair over time.
Check Gutters of Your Home Are Clear to Protect Your Siding
The gutters of your home are a perfect location for debris collection. It is common for gutters to get congested in the fall with leaves, twigs, broken branches, and other debris. If your gutters are not cleared out regularly the rainfall and moisture can cause water buildout. This greatly increases your chances of creating vulnerabilities to your home with water damage.
Keep Your Home Siding Clear of Snow & Ice
Winter months can wreak havoc on your home siding. Snow and ice tend to build up over time. It is common to clear walkways or pathways of snow, but many forget to check siding. Allowing collections of snow and ice to lay against the siding on your home can create a haven for moisture. Use a broom or gentle tool to help scrape away snow and ice debris. You will want to be careful not to damage your siding when removing ice. The goal is to try and clear as much as possible to limit the siding exposure to water.
Even with following all the best practices, there will come a time when the siding of your home will need to be replaced. There is a team of knowledgeable members at Home Specialty Products ready to help with your siding replacement needs. They are available and ready to answer any question you must help you get started on your siding replacement journey.