How to Protect Your Siding from Moisture

The siding of your home serves as the primary defense against all manner of weather, pests, wind, mold, and mildew – but moisture is something that can quickly compromise even high-quality siding. This means that you need to do everything possible to protect your siding from moisture, so that your siding can continue to protect you from all those other things.

Since your siding also acts as a kind of external skin to your house, you could very easily miss any damage which may have occurred beneath the skin. Here are some steps you can take to shield your siding from moisture damage, so it can continue to effectively perform its intended function.

Keep nearby shrubbery trimmed

While everyone can appreciate the aesthetic value that trees and shrubs bring to a home’s exterior, any of them which are planted too close to the house can potentially lead to moisture damage. Leaves and branches retain water, and when they brush up against the siding, they can drop that moisture off on your house, where it can seep in. Leaves also release water vapor into the air via tiny pores, and proximity to the house can cause that moisture to be released right into the siding.

Direct sprinkler heads away from the house

This might sound obvious, but you should be careful about the direction of sprinkler heads as they water the lawn or the flower bed. Make sure that even at its furthest point of projection, the sprinkler can’t reach the siding of your home, because if it does, that water will be absorbed into the siding and damage may occur.

Keep gutters clear

If your gutters become clogged with debris, they won’t be able to carry out their primary function, which is to direct water away from your house’s siding and foundation. Check for debris every couple months, and clean the gutters when any kind of debris begins accumulating. This is especially important in the fall, when trees begin to shed their leaves.

Don’t let snow or ice pile up

In the winter time, snow can accumulate into piles wherever it gets directed, and if that happens to be up against your house, some of it will melt and seep in. If snow piles up against the house itself, make sure to gently shovel it away, so no scraping or scoring occurs to the siding.

If you have any questions about a steel siding for your home, call Lynnrich Siding today.