| If your home is graced with wood siding, you | | | | sanding and then paint. Be sure to paint over any |
| may not have given thought to the TLC it | | | | new nails or repaired nail pops as seating the nail |
| requires. Although it is quite durable, it can fail and | | | | exposes a tiny interior section of the siding that |
| cause problems if not pampered a bit from time. | | | | can be a great starting point for water damage. |
| Although this article cannot discuss every problem | | | | It is also beneficial to inspect the caulking around |
| or issue you might face, it will be a good jumping | | | | doors and windows to make sure it is holding up. |
| off point and allow you to greatly lengthen the life | | | | Any areas where the caulk is failing or missing |
| of your beautiful exterior. | | | | should be replaced using a quality caulk. |
| Most importantly is the performance of an annual | | | | Additionally, you will need to caulk anywhere that |
| inspection each spring. Simply walk around your | | | | the siding meets trim board and to inspect the |
| home looking for an abnormalities. You might find | | | | siding where two boards meet end-to-end. It is a |
| nail pops, warping boards, chips or chunks missing | | | | good idea to caulk this area if there is a gap or |
| from boards or badly weathered paint. Be sure to | | | | the boards are offset from one another. Be sure |
| pull away any vegetation that might be leaning | | | | you are using a paintable caulk to give your siding |
| against the siding. Any plant material touching the | | | | the best look. |
| wood tends to accelerate degradation of the | | | | Although these steps are straight forward, |
| siding and is a conduit for destructive pests. | | | | implementation can be time consuming depending |
| Hammer any nails that have popped out and nail | | | | on the condition of your siding. In fact, if you |
| down any warped boards so that they are flush | | | | have never inspected your siding, you might find |
| again. Be sure to use rust resistant nails to avoid | | | | that it is in such poor condition that whole sections |
| ugly rust stains and employ a nail set to properly | | | | need to be replaced. Unless you are a die hard |
| seat the nail and avoid unsightly hammer marks. | | | | do-it-yourselfer, you will need to contact a |
| Places that are baldly weathered or are have lost | | | | contractor for an estimate. Be sure to ask about |
| their paint need to be addressed as well. The first | | | | custom pre-painted siding as this can reduce costs |
| step is to remove any loose paint that might be | | | | and protects the boards better than painting after |
| present and then to sand with coarse sandpaper. | | | | installation. |
| Next prime the area but be sure to check your | | | | In short, spending a little bit of time each year can |
| local weather forecast - you want a day or two | | | | help ensure that your siding lasts for many years |
| on each side of primer application. If you prime or | | | | and will help you avoid costly rot issues in the |
| paint while the wood is wet, you are asking for | | | | future. |
| difficulties. Once the primer is dry, give it a light | | | | |