Tips for Cleaning Your Siding This Fall

Fall is almost here and it's a great time of year to clean your siding! With the weather cooling down just a tad but still warming up in the afternoons, fall is a great time clean your siding. Cleaning your siding once per year can extend the life of your siding and keep the exterior of your home looking great. Today, our roofing company at the Lake of the Ozarks has a few tips for cleaning your siding this fall!


1. Inspect for Damage Before Cleaning. 


All types of siding are vulnerable to water infiltration, especially where it butts against windows, doors and corner moldings. You'll want to check for caulk that has cracked due to age or has pulled away from the surface, leaving a gap. If you have wood siding, check for chipped or peeling paint, as well as cracked wood and trim. For stucco, look for cracks and chips, and for brick, look for crumbling mortar joints.

2. Use Warm, Soapy Water. 


The best way to clean your siding is by hand with a bucket of warm, soapy water. Use a soft-bristled brush attached to a long handle. You'll want to work from bottom to top in order to avoid streaking. Be sure to rinse often as well so the soap doesn't dry onto the siding. It's advised to divide the work into 10-foot sections; don't try to do your whole house all at once.



3. Removing Mildew. 


Stubborn, black spotty stains are probably mildew. If warm, soapy water doesn't do the trick, dab the area with a little diluted bleach. If the spots come off, you're dealing with mildew. Clean the entire area with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the area with clean water.


4. Use Caution with Power Washing. 


Whether you have a power washer or choose to rent one, use it with caution. If you don't have experience with power washing, you could cause damage to your siding. Power washers can strip paint, gouge softwoods, loosen caulk and eat through mortar. In addition, the pressure can force water under horizontal lap joints, resulting in moisture accumulating behind the siding. If you don't have the experience or just don't have the time, consider having it professionally cleaned. A professional has the expertise to prevent water penetration at joints, seams around windows and doors, and electrical fixtures.

Once you start cleaning your siding, if you realize there is an excessive amount of damage, it may be time to replace your siding. Having broken siding is not only a cosmetic issue but it can cause damage to your home because your siding is intended to protect the outside of your home. Above & Beyond Roofing are not only your Lake of the Ozarks roofing experts but we can do an array of other jobs, including siding! Give us a call to replace siding at the Lake of the Ozarks!

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Comments

  1. Always make sure to keep your roof free of debris - leaves, branches, moss and everything else falling onto your roof doesn't just affect your gutters - it is going to cause water to get trapped between the shingles and the underlayment causing deterioration. Make sure you hire a professional to check out your roof. https://bertfairclothroofing.com/

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