Wood siding is a rich, elegant siding option that can give your home a warm, inviting appearance. If you've decided to install new siding on your home and opted for wood, there are a few things that you should know about its care and maintenance. Here are some tips to keep your wood siding looking great.

Start With Protection

The very first line of defense against weathering and damage on wood siding is the initial protection steps. Start with either a protective stain, paint or polyurethane sealant to form a barrier on the wood. This protects the siding from moisture and weathering, which reduces the risk of deterioration. If you opt for paint or stain, you'll want to reapply it every couple of years since paint can chip and stain might fade.

If you choose a stain, you can reduce your maintenance by opting for one that just enhances the natural color of the wood. When the stain is close to the natural wood color, it's less noticeable when it starts fading, which gives you a little bit more time between reapplications. If you choose a clear polyurethane, it will typically last longer, but will still need to be reapplied every few years.

Keep It Clean

Dirt accumulation can be problematic for wood siding. In fact, when left on the surface too long, it can sometimes discolor the wood. Keeping your siding clean is the best way to avoid this. Use a soft brush and some warm, soapy water to clean the siding. As an alternative, you can invest in a gentle pressure washer to do this.

Another common problem that you need to be attentive to is the presence of black spots on the siding. This is an indication of mold or mildew issues. You'll want a mixture of oxygen bleach and water to deal with this, because the bleach is necessary to disinfect the wood and eliminate the mold spores. Rinse everything completely as soon as you clean the siding so you don't leave bleach on the wood.

Restore Old Siding

The longer you have your siding, the more exposure it suffers. For siding that's been damaged by weather and the elements, you'll need to restore it. The easiest way to do this is to use a sandblaster to clean the whole surface. Just use a minimally abrasive medium, like fine-grain sand or even baking soda. This exposes clean, fresh wood beneath the surface without pitting or damaging the wood. Then, you can just start over with the fresh treatments.

For more information, contact a siding company like Brasco Siding.