According to a San Antonio siding company, more than 90 million homes utilize aluminum or vinyl siding for exterior protection.  Unfortunately, many houses are built with low quality siding that fades and oxidizes after just a few years of sunlight exposure. The ultraviolet rays degrade the siding and will usually cause bold colors to become dull and unappealing. Harsh weather and airborne pollutants are also very damaging to siding over time. Vinyl siding is notorious for collecting unsightly mildew and algae in humid or rainy climates and aluminum siding can oxidize or pit when exposed to dirt and other pollutants. Even higher quality siding is susceptible to some of these problems so it is important to be properly equipped to deal with these issues when they arise.

Siding replacement is not cheap. Instead of spending a lot of money trying to replace weathered siding, you should first attempt to restore it. There are many cleaning products sold at retail stores that are fantastic at removing mildew and grime (like shown above) from most vinyl surfaces. Once you rid the surface of any dirt, you can apply a vinyl restoration solution (also available at retail stores) to bring  stained and faded siding back to life. If you have aluminum siding, you can follow the same process with aluminum restoration products to remove oxidation and reduce pitting. If you are still not happy with the results, you may want to use a pressure washer to fully clean the siding first and then apply the restoration product. Pressure washers are great at cleaning dirt and grime out of any small pores/cracks in the siding.

For the ultimate finish you may want to consider painting your siding. A new coat of paint can make a world of difference for both your siding and the overall appearance of your home. Be sure that you use paint specifically for outdoor vinyl or aluminum applications. It is much more resistive to environmental factors and will ultimately help in avoiding any blistering or peeling. You want the finish to last for many years to come so do not skimp and buy cheap or generic paint. Cheap paint will peel and discolor in as little as 2 years and you will be stuck removing the old paint before you are able to paint again.

Before you start spending a heap of money on replacement siding try a couple of these tips and see if you are happy with the results. Most siding can be restored to like new condition with little work. Roll up your sleeves

 Andrea enjoys writing about home ownership and the positives and negatives that come along with it. If you need more information on painting siding she recommends you visit the New Braunfels house painting website for further resources.