Wood siding is known for its Old World elegance, but it requires frequent maintenance to maintain its aesthetic appeal. Exterior Building Solutions, your go-to company for roofing maintenance services in the state, shares some wood siding maintenance tips below.
Maintenance Basics
There are two things you need to watch out for: humidity and temperature. With frequent exposure to the two, the paint on wood can chip and crack. This, in turn, may cause your windows’ and doors’ caulked seams to separate, creating an opening for moisture to seep in and slowly rot your wood siding.
Paint, Stain and Clear Sealers
Ask any of your local roofing companies, and they’ll tell you that paint isn’t necessarily the best coating for your exterior. Depending on your preferences and needs, you may be better off using stains or clear sealers. Listed below are the advantages of each coating:
- Paint – This type of coating is popular due to the design flexibility it gives homeowners. However, given that most homeowners choose wood siding for its natural color and finish, this may not be the most suitable choice.
- Wood Stains – Wood stains’ ability to penetrate wood fibers is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, stains are able to prevent moisture from penetrating wood fibers. But on the other hand, it will be difficult to change the color of your siding because stains permeate deeply.
- Clear Sealers – Clear sealers allow wood to retain its natural color, making it a good choice for those who want to maximize the material’s classic appeal.
Climate and the Frequency of Maintenance
You can also maintain wood siding’s aesthetic appeal by treating it. In general, wood siding needs to be treated every four and six years, but it may be more frequent depending on your area. As wood is susceptible to moisture and heat, houses in snowy, mountainous areas closer to the sun will need their wood siding treated more often.
To ensure your wood siding is able to retain its aesthetic appeal for as long as possible, consult an experienced siding contractor. We also offer emergency leaking roof repair and siding installation services. For inquiries, call us at (314) 470-8783, or fill out this form.