certainteed vinyl siding installation instructions

Then other pros prefer to use some type of cleaner. 'It is the least likely to cause damage and, in our experience, does a fairly thorough job.' 'At the end of the day, we feel confident that the best way to clean the house is with low-pressure water with no cleaning products,' says Niki O'Brien, operations manager at Custom Exteriors, LLC in Colorado. Some siding professionals believe less is more. However, for older siding, feel free to follow these instructions from the pros. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and use their recommended products/solutions, especially if your siding is still under warranty. You want to be careful when applying chemicals to your vinyl siding as some may be too caustic and harm the surface. Recommended vinyl siding cleaning solutions

If you feel uncomfortable with heights or have difficulty holding a heavy telescoping scrubbing brush over your head, consider hiring help. Some homeowners choose to add the expense of cleaning other components of the home's exterior, like gutters and soffits.Īnytime ladders and personal protective equipment are involved in a home improvement project, you want to ensure you're safe. The cost will be higher for steep slopes or two-story homes, too. When landscaping, the slope of the terrain and the house's height can make the work more difficult. However, some homeowners need to realize that when cleaning the siding, the porches, porch ceilings, and railings must also be cleaned, adding to the expense. The size of the home and the condition of the siding are the most obvious. However, many other factors influence the cost of a professional siding cleaning. Whether you use an all-natural solution made at home with white vinegar or chlorine bleach or purchase an industrial-strength cleaner, the ingredients, and scrubbing supplies are all that make up the cost of this project. The average cost to clean your own siding is $25 to $50, depending on the supplies.Ĭleaning vinyl siding is a home maintenance project most homeowners can perform themselves. The average cost for a professional siding cleaning is $396 to $721, depending on your location and the job scope. But if you see crud hanging out in the corners, notice a thin film of dust and grime, have mold and mildew growing, or noticing a loss of vibrance in your vinyl siding's color, it's time to get the scrubbing brushes ready. Wash your house as often as the manufacturer recommends. On the Fine Homebuilding 2016 ProHome (Now 'FHB House') we used a mix of Boral lap siding and flush nickel gap siding.To properly maintain your siding, don't wait for signs. I also like using flush board siding traditionally called Dolly Varden in New England, and Car Siding elsewhere, or now with various profiles such as nickel gap it can have a modern look.

When clients want colored shingles I spec single-dipped at the factory, with a second coat applied after installation, for the cleanest look-I learned the hard way that it's hard to keep double-dipped shingles looking perfect during installation. I've also spec'd and/or installed a lot of white cedar shingles with bleaching oil, for those who can't wait for natural weathering. I've always used either solid stain or latex paint on clapboards.įor types of siding other than clapboards, my go-to is eastern white cedar shingles, preferably unfinished-the original low-maintenance siding. I have not used eastern white pine clapboards but I would not be opposed to using them, if fully sealed and on a good rain screen system. I have installed locally sawn spruce clapboards but they only come in short lengths and tend to be a bit brittle, in my experience. For the last ten years or so I have often found it more affordable to use western hemlock. Rick, here in New England the standard wood clapboard siding has long been western red cedar, preferably clear, vertical grain, and that's mainly what I installed back in my carpentry days, along with a lot of white cedar shingles, and occasionally red cedar shakes or shingles.

Certainteed vinyl siding installation instructions