Do you have vinyl siding on your home? While vinyl siding is an attractive and resilient material, it’s not indestructible. If you don’t care for it properly, it can crack or puncture and even the best siding can’t stand up to some of the Midwest’s strong storms. To keep it in top shape, here are some maintenance tips. We’ll also tell you the best time to replace your siding if that time comes.
Caring for Your Midwest Home’s Vinyl Siding
Performing maintenance on and around your home year-round keeps your siding and other important materials safe and clean. Here is some regular maintenance you should be performing:
Trim shrubbery and trees around your home.
If they grow too closely, they could scratch or otherwise damage the vinyl material.
Do routine manual inspections to check that all vinyl is firmly attached.
If parts of your siding are pulling away from your house, strong winds could pull a section off. If you do have a loose piece of siding, call an exterior professional such as A&A Exteriors to fix it.
Scrub and rinse siding.
To keep your siding clean, scrub it with a stiff bristle brush and soapy water, then rinse with clear water. For hard-to-reach areas, use a long-handled car wash brush. You can do this seasonally or whenever you notice dirty patches.
Don’t like the color of your siding?
You don’t necessarily need to replace it. You can paint vinyl siding with 100% acrylic latex paint. However, once siding is painted, you will need to repaint it periodically just as you would other types of siding.
When to Install or Replace Vinyl Siding
Though vinyl siding can last up to 40 years, it does still need to be replaced after a certain amount of time. If you’re ready to replace your vinyl siding or if you want to replace other types of siding with vinyl, fall is the best time to do so. Here’s why:
Prices tend to be lower in the fall.
Due to most homeowners replacing siding in the spring and summer months, siding contractors tend to be able to give better deals during the fall months. Building supply companies may also put vinyl materials on sale in the fall to make room for next year’s styles. The fall months in the Midwest tend to still be warm enough to have crews outside replacing vinyl siding and many contractors have openings for these types of jobs in the fall.
Heat can affect siding installation.
Because vinyl expands with heat, it could buckle or crack if it’s installed in the summer and nailed too tightly. The material will contract in the colder weather, causing problems that could lead to necessary repairs or replacements. Fall has the ideal weather for vinyl siding installation.
Your home will be winterized.
If your old siding had gaps or cracks, you could have been paying extra on utility bills and it could have compromised your family’s comfort. When you have new siding installed in the fall, your home will be cozy and safe before the first winter storm hits.
If you have vinyl siding on your home, taking care of it will ensure it looks great and remains intact for many years. Time to replace your siding or ready to upgrade? Fall is the perfect time to make the decision. If you’d like to talk to an exterior expert about repairing or replacing vinyl siding, call A&A Roofing & Exteriors. We’d love to help.
