Fiber cement’s durability and simple upkeep are some of the reasons it’s such a popular siding material. But low maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance. It’s important to understand the simple upkeep your siding needs, and do your part to ensure you get optimal long-term performance and decades of reliable protection for your home from your new siding.
Read on to gain understanding of the maintenance needs of durable fiber cement siding so you can fully enjoy its longevity.
Fiber Cement Siding Upkeep
Clean your siding annually to maintain its attractive aesthetic
Don’t expect the rain to do all the work for you when it comes to keeping dirt from accumulating on your siding.
Your part: With a garden hose and medium bristle nylon brush, wash your siding each year. Remove dirt and debris, and use mild detergent on any stains to maintain your siding’s beauty. While cleaning it, inspect your siding to ensure it is in excellent condition.
Paint your fiber cement siding to keep it well sealed
While you don’t need to paint fiber cement siding nearly as often as wood, it will eventually need new paint. If you had factory painted fiber cement installed, you likely won’t need to repaint it for 15 years. In fact, James Hardie warranties their factory painted ColorPlus technology planks to be free from flakes, cracks, and chips for 15 years. But if you had pre-primed boards installed, you’ll need to paint your home sooner than 15 years. Look for signs of wear and tear, chipping, fading, or cracked paint as signals that it’s time to repaint.
Your part: Repaint your siding in a timely fashion to keep it looking gorgeous. You’ll provide a fresh layer of moisture resistance by sealing your home’s protective layer with paint.
Replace caulking to seal your home from leaks
Water penetration is the enemy to your siding, so although it is moisture resistant due to its makeup, its joints need to remain sealed to keep water from causing damage. Silicone caulk can be easily found at your local hardware store and used to replace any deteriorating caulk around your windows, doors, between siding panels, and in other vulnerable joints.
Your part: Inspect your caulking once or twice a year for signs of wear and tear, cracks, and gaps in the caulk. Apply new caulk anywhere needed by squeezing the silicone in a steady bead, then smoothing it down to fill in the spaces that need it.
Keep your gutters in good shape to safeguard your siding from moisture damage
The condition of your gutters impacts your siding’s longevity. By channeling water away from your home, your gutter system helps keep your siding in tip-top shape so you can enjoy the high performance it was meant to deliver for decades.
Your part: Clean your gutters annually after all your trees have dropped their leaves each fall, as well as in the spring. By cleaning your gutters, you’ll keep them free from clogged dirt and debris so water can flow through them freely.
Trim your trees and shrubs that border your home
It’s important to keep trees, shrubs, and landscaping from brushing up against your fiber cement siding. If your foliage is overgrown, it can scrape your siding, scratch its finish, and eventually make it vulnerable to moisture intrusion or pest infestation.
Your part: When planting shrubs and trees around your home, leave space between your house and the foliage so your siding can breathe. Trim trees and shrubs annually to prevent them from coming into contact with your siding.
Enjoy Your Long-Lasting Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is made of cement, sand, and cellulose, causing it to be one of the longest lasting materials in the industry. When you invest in reliable fiber cement, you can rest assured that your home is well protected from severe weather, moisture intrusion, pests, and more.
At Porter Family Exteriors, we are a James Hardie Elite Preferred contractor, so you can rest at ease that when you need replacement siding, it will be installed with precision and according to the Hardie company’s best practices.
Learn more about how our fiber cement siding services can safeguard your home from the elements and give you the low-maintenance exterior you desire.
