Your home is probably your biggest investment and preventative maintenance is one of the best ways to protect that investment. Caring for your vinyl siding includes cleaning and upkeep as we shared in this post. However, there are also a number of things you should avoid to keep your siding looking and performing its best.

Paint

It may seem like an easy and economical transformation to paint your vinyl siding, but the result will end up costing you in the long run. As the temperature fluctuates, vinyl siding will expand and contract. As the seasons change, the overlapping panel "seams" will slightly change position. That means that the painting you did on a beautiful summer day will slowly reveal unpainted areas as autumn arrives, the temperature cools and the seams contract.

Paint can also damage the vinyl siding. For example, painting a dark colour on a light siding will allow more heat to be absorbed from the sun and can cause buckling, warping and curling.

Our premium quality vinyl siding is manufactured in rich colour tones and should never unevenly fade or discolour. However, if you have an issue like this, contact Mission Exteriors to review your warranty and discuss your options.

Harsh Chemicals

One of the items on your preventative maintenance checklist should be cleaning your vinyl siding. Over time it will accumulate dirt, grime and possibly mildew. However, when cleaning your vinyl siding, you should never use cleaners that contain organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover or furniture cleaners. These harsh chemicals can damage the integrity of your vinyl siding. Instead, mix ½ cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP is available at most stores) with one gallon of warm water. It’s always a good idea to do a test on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure a negative reaction does not occur.

Abrasive Tools

When cleaning your vinyl siding, be careful what tools you choose for the job. Steel wool, wire brushes and paint scrapers can leave deep scratches or discolouration and should be avoided.

It will require a fair bit of effort, but a little elbow grease will go a long way! Using a soft-bristled, long-handled brush divide your house into 10 foot sections and work at scrubbing away the grime. Always start at the top and work your way down, rinsing often.

Power Wash

Using a power washer can definitely make the job go quicker and require less muscle power, but it comes with a word of caution. Power washers are called that for a reason. They have a lot of power behind them and can gouge or damage your home if you’re not careful.

It’s also imperative that you keep the water stream at eye level to ensure the water does not go behind the siding. If the water is sprayed at an angle, the force can push water behind the siding and cause major moisture issues. This may not be noticeable right away, but over time mold can develop and compromise the integrity of your home and your health.

Mission Exteriors can safely and effectively do the job for you. Take the risk out of the equation and hire a professional.

BBQ

Of course we don’t want you to avoid using your BBQ – who can resist a flame-grilled burger on a summer day? However, you do need to use caution as far as the placement of the BBQ. It should be at least 10 feet away from your vinyl siding. PVC will ignite at 387°C and with BBQ temperatures reaching up to 315°C, the heat from the grill can warp, melt and severely damage your siding.

Mission Exteriors is on a mission to provide beautiful and timely exterior renovations through outstanding customer service. If you would like to book our team to complete some repairs, cleaning or possibly replace your siding, contact us today. We can advise you regarding the scope of the project and complete the job with our combined 30 years of experience!