LP® SmartSide® siding is engineered to withstand the common issues that plague conventional siding, such as hail, wind, moisture, fungal decay and termites. This doesn’t mean it’s maintenance-free, however. Proper maintenance is key to ensuring your siding lasts for a long time.

Read on as Exterior Source, a top home improvement contractor in the state, shares some maintenance tips below.

Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint

Ideally, you should repaint your siding before the existing coat starts to flake or fade. In particular, you need to keep an eye on the bottom row and the area under the window casing. We recommend using a 100% acrylic latex paint that’s suitable for use on wood, and engineered wood substrates.

And before you apply a new coat, make sure your siding is free of mold, mildew and algae.

Clean Your Siding Using a Mild Cleaning Solution

If there’s any mold or mildew, wash your siding using a brush and a solution made with mild detergent from top to bottom. Avoid using a pressure washer.

Make Sure There’s Ample Space Between Your Siding and The Ground 

Your siding should be at least six inches above the ground; it should also be a half inch per foot slope away from paved surfaces, such as your driveway or patio. This is to ensure that garden mulch and other debris don’t accumulate on your siding and that rainwater from your seamless gutters will be able to drain properly.

There should also be enough space between your siding and sprinklers, so the siding doesn’t get wet when you turn the sprinklers on.

Check the Caulking Around Your Siding

You should conduct a comprehensive inspection of your siding once a year. If the caulking around the siding is cracked or has lost its seal, have a contractor replace it as soon as possible.

Exterior Source is a home improvement contractor that was included in last year’s Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500. We have more than two and a half decades’ worth of experience and offer a variety of premium siding products and replacement windows. To get a free quote, call us at (804) 275-5323 or (757) 464-2060 or leave us a message on this form.