Cedar Exterior Siding Maintenance

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.

Cedar exterior siding maintenance.

Cedar maintenance you don t have to do much to cedar shingle siding if you prefer its weathered gray look other than clean and coat it with a clear water resistant preservative and inspect it for rot and damage periodically. Cedar siding maintenance genuine cedar siding is going to require washing and staining sealing or painting on a regular basis. Dusty climates will require more frequent washing. Western red cedar is naturally resistant to rot decay and insect attacks.

This will avoid problems such as mold mildew rot and water damage. Prone to dust and dirt accumulation cedar exterior siding receives a good pressure wash on the lowest setting well. 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. Wood siding is one of the most beautiful of all types of siding and one of the most expensive.

Before you give in and paint your shingles realize that cedar shingles can last decades with virtually no maintenance. Cedar shake maintenance cedar has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping rotting and cracking. Depending on maintenance your rich wood siding can last from 10 to sometimes 100 years. Basic items required for cleaning cedar siding are.

But a little maintenance can keep them looking great and extend their life even further. These natural elements slowly erode the finishes and as a result all finishes applied to cedar require regular cleaning and maintenance to perform. Power wash every two to four years. Step 1 clean.

Clapboard siding uses planks of wood installed horizontally with an upper piece that overlaps the lower piece. Coating the cedar shingles with a water resistant product helps to preserve the wood against moisture damage. Cedar siding maintenance must be a regular task so that you can avoid permanent damage to your home s exterior. Your climate and landscape will determine how often these processes are required.

Wood siding comes in clapboard also known as lap or bevel siding as well as shakes and shingles. Learning how to care for cedar shingles whether they are installed as siding or roofing is not particularly difficult. Which makes it incredibly low maintenance whereas the so called low maintenance composite materials require more upkeep because they don t have any natural defenses against things like mildew. While this material is beautiful long lasting and tough like all other types of wood you must be up to date with the care and cleaning of cedar siding.