Casper Siding Maintenance
Low to No Maintenance Siding
Is there such a thing as no upkeep necessary? If you want to prolong the life of the siding, this really doesn’t exist. Most everything needs some type of maintenance to ensure it is less susceptible to breaking or in need of major repairs down the road.
And so, instead of no maintenance, how about low maintenance? Really, whichever material is chosen, there really is a low requirement for upkeep. Yes, even wood although this is the material that probably requires the most attention to prolong its lifespan. Whether it is cedar shingle siding maintenance, cedar shake siding maintenance, or simply wood siding maintenance, here are some pointers:
Lets talk cleaners other than that simple task of just spraying siding down with that jet nozzle from the garden hose. When the desire is to use a cleaner, keep the plant life that is nearby in mind. I mean you don’t want to kill your plants, do you? Using a cleaner usually means you are using chemicals and some are much more harsh than others. In that, it is important to know what the cleaner you are using has in it and more importantly what’s in it that may be harmful to your health or your plant life.
Contact our experienced siding professionals for more information!
Cleaning Siding
Cleaner Types
Cleaners with chemicals that are harmful to everything: the environment, plant life, and your life are those that have bleach, ammonia, or trisodium phosphate (TSP). So let’s start with this thing called bleach. Although it does kill mold and mildew, it can also be very harmful to plants due to its strong toxic nature. Ammonia and TSP are similar in their effects as they can change the plant’s soil pH levels and kill off much-needed nutrients.
How Siding Cleaners Affect Plants
When harsh chemical cleaners directly contact plants, they can burn the leaves or stems of the plants. If the exposure is longer, the plant can incur more severe damage or even death!
If the cleaner leaks or runs off into the soil of plant life, it can change the composition of the soil. It can make the soil more acidic or add too much alkaline making the plant unable to thrive.
If I fair amount or lots of water is used for the cleaning process, the chemicals that are washed into the drain and ultimately into the public water supply can contaminate the environment. Not to sound like a paranoid freak but it can contribute to negatively affecting the environmental region.
How to Prevent All This Negative Stuff!
Before using these cleaners, thoroughly water or wet your plants to help reduce them from absorbing the chemicals from the cleaner. The water can dilute the chemicals or even shield them to an extent.
Consider possibly covering your plants with a trap or plastic. The physical barrier will prevent all contact from the chemicals altogether. Just remember to not leave the cover on for too long to avoid the plant from getting stressed out from excess heat or getting its proper amount of oxygen. Yes, they need to breathe too!
When using the cleaner, pay attention to control the amount in which it is used. Avoid over-spraying or allowing for excess runoff into the plant soil areas. Use tools like brushes or nozzles to control or focus the amount and direction of where you want the cleaner to go.
After the cleaning is done, wash or rinse the area thoroughly to dilute or get rid of the chemicals just used.
Although simply spraying off the siding with just water is usually all that is needed. If a cleaner is desired, try looking for an eco-friendly type of cleaner. They are not as harmful, if at all, to plants. They usually use enzymes or other biodegradable ingredients that are less harmful. Still, use them conservatively as they are still using chemicals to clean. In general, they are safer to use than other cleaners.
Just use careful discretion when applying cleaners to assist in the maintenance process. A basic understanding of the pros and cons and the proper use is key to good siding maintenance and keeping plant life healthy and thriving. Whether it is cedar wood siding maintenance or maintenance of wood siding in general, keeping it attractive and long-lasting is important, but so is maintaining a healthy environment!