It's true. Anyone who thinks that siding can simply hang beautifully on a home's exterior walls for centuries to come better think again. To keep your siding looking nice and to get the most life and best protection out of it-and likewise, get the most bang for your buck-there are some simple maintenance tips to keep in mind.

Keep your siding clean.
For the most part, keeping your siding clean is a relatively easy task. Often, you can use a standard garden hose with a sprayer attachment to rinse off dust, cobwebs, and debris. If you encounter dirt and grime that's more stubborn, you can even use a power washer to blast it away or sweep it off with a long-handled brush or broom. But don't get too carried away and damage your siding while you're getting it clean.

And there are certain messes that can show up on your siding that you'll want to take care of more immediately, like tree sap, bird droppings, or the occasional egg yolk. These can cause more serious damage to your paint or protective coating if left untreated, which can lead to a domino effect of damage down the road. If the hose and power washer don't get them off, there are special solvents you can find at any home improvement store to help get the job done.

Cleaning your siding isn't a monthly task, but it's best to shine it up every couple years. Not only will this keep it free of buildup that can lead to damage, but it'll also help ensure that your home is the best looking one on the block.

Keep your siding looking its best.
Cleaning your siding is a great first step to maintaining its good looks, but that's only half the battle. Siding is challenged by continuous exposure to the sun, wind, rain, snow, and other extremes that will fade its color and give it a worn, aged look. Most siding can be repainted every 5 to 15 years, depending on how ambitious you are, how vibrant you want your color to remain, or how frequently you change your color tastes.

Other siding like vinyl and metal isn't usually painted, but there are more recent developments in paint that give you the option to paint these types of siding if you prefer. If not, you can apply treatments to protect its color, which act similarly to sunscreen for your home.

Keep your siding in good repair.
Simply put, your home's siding is its front line of defense against the elements. It's equally as important as the roof, but that's a separate discussion. So, to make sure your siding can perform at its best when battling the weather, it's vital to keep it in good condition and make repairs as soon as they're known.

If some of your vinyl siding gets loose in a windstorm, get it reattached. If parts of your wood siding are beginning to rot, replace them with new pieces and protect it with sealant and paint. If your aluminum siding is bent or dented, fix it or replace the damaged sections. And if you have steel siding that's starting to rust, clear the rust off and reseal the bare metal.

It's a good idea to frequently survey your home's siding for minor damages and take care of them quickly. Leaving small blemishes like these can lead to major damage and expensive repairs.

Think you might need new siding or someone to repair the existing siding on your home? If so, you can find experienced siding contractors on Kudzu.com today.

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