How Do I Properly Maintain My Home’s Cedar Siding?
Cedar siding is a beautiful and long-lasting siding choice. But it’s important that you stay up to date with your cedar siding’s car and cleaning to maintain its beauty.
Routine maintenance will help to prevent issues such as mold, mildew, rotting, and water damage. To help you sustain your siding’s long-lasting life and appearance, here are a few tips you can use to catch problems before they cause permanent damage.
Clean your siding completely before painting
Cedar siding has natural preservatives that are capable of withstanding many types of weather. But without the proper care, your siding could suffer from mold damage because of mildew buildup.
To keep mold and mildew at bay, remember to completely clean your cedar siding before you begin painting it. This will free your siding from any dirt, debris, or mildew that could be trapped by the paint.
Prevent moisture from seeping into your siding
Without maintenance, moisture can make its way into your home’s cedar siding. This is a problem because it can cause water damage, mold, and mildew. But the good news is you can help to prevent moisture with just a few simple steps.
- Make sure your attic is well insulated
- Be sure your home’s caulking and flashing is properly maintained
- Maintain your home’s interior humidity around 40%
- Consider using heating wires on your home’s eaves to melt ice during the winter to keep water from backing up under your roof shingles.
Remember to prime your siding before painting
When painting your home’s cedar siding, you need to sand and prime it properly after you’ve completely cleaned it. Sanding your siding helps to remove any loose surface particles from the wood.
Once you’ve sanded, cover your siding in a primer that will keep tannic acid or natural red coloring from surfacing on the siding. Finally, after the primer has dried, you can begin painting with exterior latex paint. It’s recommended to apply a new coat of paint approximately every three to seven years.
Do you need cedar siding repairs or a siding replacement?
It’s no secret that cedar siding is popular. In fact, there are up to 15 different types of siding and cedar siding is considered the number one most popular type of wood siding.
Whether you’re looking to install cedar siding this summer, you need a cedar siding replacement, or you need some repairs, Side Pro has you covered. To learn more about our cedar siding replacements and repairs, contact Side Pro today.
