Although tending to periodic repairs is part of owning a home, there are things you can do to reduce your expenses.  One of the best ways to prevent costly repairs while adding value to your Minneapolis home is to clean your siding at least once a year. By removing mildew and dirt from your home’s exterior, you’re lengthening its life span in addition to improving your curb appeal.

Cleaning Tips Although cleaning your entire home with the help of a friend will take up an entire weekend, the job is relatively simple to do. All you need is a bucket of soapy, warm water, a soft-bristled brush on a long pole and some time. The best way to clean your siding is to divide your house into 20-foot sections, then clean them from top to bottom and rinse with clean water. If you have more than one story, you’ll need to use a ladder.  Do the top floor first to prevent dripping dirty water on a previously-cleaned section.

If you don’t have the time or inclination, you can hire a siding professional to do the cleaning for you. With the help of pressure washers, they’ll finish the job within a day.

Siding Damage Inspection Before you get starting with the cleaning routine, look for wear and tear or damage. Regardless of the type of siding you have, look for damaged caulk that’s cracked or pulling away from either surface. You can fix this by applying color-matched caulking during a dry day when temps are 65° F or warmer. Vinyl and Fiber Cement Siding Repair If your siding is damaged from things like rocks from the lawnmower or balls from the kids, it’s best to get a siding installation professional to repair it for you, unless you already have the expertise to do it yourself.

Between repairing damage early on and keeping the exterior of your home clean, you can extend the life of your siding and increase your home value at the same time.

Quarve Contracting offers installation of a variety of siding materials from quality manufacturers such as James Hardie and Crane.  If you've got questions about taking care of your siding, please give us a call.