Exterior Cedar Siding Maintenance

Wood siding comes in clapboard also known as lap or bevel siding as well as shakes and shingles.

Exterior cedar siding maintenance.

Cedar maintenance you don t have to do much to cedar shingle siding if you prefer its weathered gray look. Moreover insects and birds can bore holes and moisture can cause boards to warp and crack. Clapboard siding uses planks of wood installed horizontally with an upper piece that overlaps the lower piece. Depending on maintenance your rich wood siding can last from 10 to sometimes 100 years.

Power wash every two to four years. A thorough cleaning once or twice a year will greatly extend the life of cedar. Cedar siding is actually less maintenance than you think and there s many reasons why you should use cedar for your next siding project. The surfaces of finished western red cedar decks siding and trim boards exposed outdoors inevitably become dirty and can also be discolored by mildew algae and moss.

A mild non phosphate detergent is recommended. The usefulness of cedar for exterior applications such as siding and fencing is due to its exceptional weather resistance but over time even cedar siding can be damaged from exposure to moisture and ultraviolet uv rays. Cedar siding maintenance must be a regular task so that you can avoid permanent damage to your home s exterior. These natural elements slowly erode the finishes and as a result all finishes applied to cedar require regular cleaning and maintenance to perform.

Genuine cedar siding is going to require washing and staining sealing or painting on a regular basis. Used for shingles trim house siding decking fences hot tubs and gates cedar is cheap widely available highly versatile easy to fabricate and best of all it weathers exceptionally well. Stained cedar siding requires more maintenance than other woods but also lasts longer. Dusty climates will require more frequent washing.

Wood siding is one of the most beautiful of all types of siding and one of the most expensive. Prone to dust and dirt accumulation cedar exterior siding receives a good pressure wash on the lowest setting well. Red cedar is one of the most popular wood species for exterior use because of its natural rich red color and its natural resistance to decay. Your climate and landscape will determine how often these processes are required.

If you d like to avoid repairs that could cost thousands of dollars and you d like to keep your clapboard shingles or board and batten lasting for decades regular upkeep and maintenance is critical. This will avoid problems such as mold mildew rot and water damage.