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Wood Siding: A Little TLC Preserves and Protects Your Natural Wood

Most people who choose natural wood siding do so for its beauty. Even wood alternatives, like vinyl, strive to look more like their natural counterparts. While natural wood does bring a certain charm to your home, it does so with a cost: maintenance. This article provides tips for protecting and preserving your natural wood siding.

Do you remember how much money and effort went into installing your natural wood siding? Chances are you didn't mind; you enjoy the classic charm a natural siding provides.

Wood Siding Maintenance

Often times, natural wood requires more maintenance and care than many homeowners bargained for, and simply rinsing it off is out of the question. With a little time and TLC, however, you can prevent any damage and keep your wood siding looking its best for years. Here are some tips for preserving and protecting your wood siding:

  • Caulk any joints, cracks or holes with paintable caulk and seal the bottom of the panels to prevent chipping
  • Do not hose down your natural wood; the water could cause chipping, decay, bowed panels or shrinkage. Keep sprinklers away as well.
  • Check the paint regularly for flaking, and recover any exposed areas.
  • Paint or re-stain the wood every few years. Be sure to check wood-specific guidelines to ensure you're using the type of stain or paint that works best with your home's wood.

Staining Wood Siding

According to Ask the Builder by Tim Carter (www.askthebuilder.com), many stains add chemical mildew-cides and fungicides to stains, but rain and ultraviolet rays from the sun can break these chemicals down. The best semi-transparent stains, therefore, are those with no natural oils. Mildew will not eat products with synthetic resins. Water repellants are also useful, but the siding must be deep cleaned with sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) or the much safer oxygen bleach beforehand.

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