Learn how to care for your hardie board siding!
Let’s start by defining hardie board siding — it’s a fiber cement siding that requires a specific set of techniques for care and maintenance. The full name for this type of siding is James Hardie siding, and its known for its beauty and value. Let’s go over some siding maintenance tips to keep it in great condition for many years to come.
Washing
For many other types of siding, homeowners and professional cleaners have found pressure washing to be a great technique because of the way that it literally blasts away dirt and debris from the side of the home. However, with hardie siding, this technique could actually be damaging and cause abrasions. Instead, professionals recommend using a low-pressure water spray and soft, medium bristle brush instead. It’s much more suitable and gentle for cleaning fiber cement products. Also, be sure to stay away from acid washing, which can also cause damage to hardie siding.
Caulking
When you begin to see signs of wear in your caulking, be sure to reapply the caulk immediately to avoid moisture from getting inside the wall cavity. A combination of caulking and sealants that remain permanently flexible are useful in the areas of penetrations, flashings, plank and trim connections, and between plank joints.
Painting
If you’re ready to refresh the look of your siding by repainting it, the touch-ups should be relegated to areas about the size of a dime. Otherwise, you should consider replacing the entire panel. Use touch up paints for small nicks, scrapes, nail holes, and scratches. For deeper dents and cracks, use a cementitious patching compound. Before getting started, be careful not to void any warranties you may have associated with your siding by remembering to refer to your manufacturer recommendations and technical bulletin.
Landscape
If you aren’t already, get into the practice of keeping your shrubs and other vegetation scaled back and away from the side of your home. It will keep your sprinkler system from saturating your hardie siding. In addition, ensure that your home has a proper slope so that rainfall flows effectively away from your home.
CREATE A HOME YOU LOVE WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE HOME, LLC
Are you in need of a new roof or gutters? Are you looking for a more energy-efficient window or door? Would you like to transform the exterior of your home? Look no further than High Performance Home, LLC. With over 38 years of professional contracting experience building, improving, remodeling, repairing, and adding on to homes and buildings, you can’t go wrong by contacting us today! We provide service to Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Western Baltimore, and Northern Montgomery Counties. Also, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.