Spring is in the air and this is the season to complete many “spring-cleaning” and home maintenance projects – inside and outside your home. For those who currently have wood siding, keeping the siding looking presentable is definitely a challenge. Often, wood siding needs a new paint job every couple of years just to keep it looking sharp, especially in harsh climates.  You can count on hours of manual labor when you paint the house yourself, considering all the scraping, then sanding and repainting that is needed to complete the job.  Who wants to even think about a project like this, when you have so many other things to do?  Maintaining your wood siding is not the most fun way to spend your spring or summer weekends.

Now is the time to think about a siding replacement project.  The professional team at Allied Siding and Windows can help you choose easy to maintain siding that is right for your home and their experts will professionally install it for you.  Once their work is complete, your home will look brand new.

As you consider replacing your siding, one of the most important questions to consider is this: what is the best siding to use to ensure minimal annual maintenance?  You will find that HardiePlank® fiber cement siding is a great product to consider because it is practically maintenance free, with minimal effort required to keep it looking as good as new.  Overall, fiber cement siding is resistant to most ordinary household stains.  Because siding is exposed to Mother Nature and a variety of different weather conditions during any given year, it can become a little dusty, dirty or sometimes a bit mildewed.  To keep HardiePlank® fiber cement siding in tip-top shape and looking beautiful, consider the following simple suggestions.

If your siding is dirty, it is easy to remove grime, soil and mildew by using a garden hose and a soft long-handled, soft-bristle brush or cloth.  Do not use a hard brush (for example, a scrub brush or an abrasive scrub sponge) that could damage the finish or siding.  Often just water will do the trick to wash away any dust or pollen that has accumulated on the siding.  Sometimes, however, a little more is needed.  With a mild dish detergent, gently scrub the siding until the grime is loosened and then you can use the hose to wash away the dirt.

If you start at the top and work down, you will prevent dripping and streaking in an already cleaned area. Using a soft brush, gently clean the siding using a side-to-side motion.  Be sure not to push the brush too hard against the siding surface.  Continually rinse the area that you are working on to ensure any cleanser is not allowed to dry on the siding.

If your surface still looks dirty or stained after simple washing methods have been used, the problem may be mildew. Mildew discoloration can look just like regular dirt, but it may take a little extra to wash it away.  Moisture, which can lie dormant for years, is the single most important single factor that promotes the growth of mildew.  For this reason, mildew is often found in damp, dark areas or during prolonged humid conditions.  You can use a mildew cleaner, but it is advised that all instructions listed on the label be followed.   Keep in mind that using harsh or harmful chemicals has the potential to damage the finish on the fiber cement siding.

As you can see, with just a little bit of time and minimal effort, HardiePlank® fiber cement siding can be kept looking “just like new” and it will provide many years of trouble-free protection for your home.   If you are tired of tackling the maintenance of your current wood siding and would like the beauty and ease of HardiePlank® fiber cement siding, contact the professionals at Allied Siding and Windows today for more information!  Using only high quality products, in conjunction with their stringent construction and production practices, Allied Siding and Windows ensures an optimum level of performance, results, and satisfaction for every customer.