Cedar Exterior Siding Maintenance

Prone to dust and dirt accumulation cedar exterior siding receives a good pressure wash on the lowest setting well.

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. Power wash every two to four years. But a little maintenance can keep them looking great and extend their life even further. 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.

Wood siding comes in clapboard also known as lap or bevel siding as well as shakes and shingles. Basic items required for cleaning cedar siding are. These natural elements slowly erode the finishes and as a result all finishes applied to cedar require regular cleaning and maintenance to perform. It does weather though changing color throughout time offering a much more rugged look than stained cedar siding offers.

Before you give in and paint your shingles realize that cedar shingles can last decades with virtually no maintenance. Coating the cedar shingles with a water resistant product helps to preserve the wood against moisture damage. As it ages cedar loses some of its natural oils hence the need for upkeep. 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. Depending on maintenance your rich wood siding can last from 10 to sometimes 100 years. 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. 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.

Dusty climates will require more frequent washing. Cedar siding maintenance must be a regular task so that you can avoid permanent damage to your home s exterior. Western red cedar is naturally resistant to rot decay and insect attacks. Learning how to care for cedar shingles whether they are installed as siding or roofing is not particularly difficult.

This will avoid problems such as mold mildew rot and water damage. Step 1 clean. 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. Your climate and landscape will determine how often these processes are required.