Maintenance Tips: How to Clean Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding is known for its exceptional durability, but that doesn’t mean there’s no need to conduct siding maintenance. Routine maintenance is still needed to preserve the finish on fiber cement siding that’s responsible for protecting it from the elements.

The siding contractors at Home Wizard share some tips on spring cleaning your siding below.

Removing Dirt, Dust and Chalk
There’s no need to use a power washer or chemical cleaners to remove dirt, dust and chalk from your siding. Fiber cement siding has minimal maintenance requirements, after all. All you need is a damp, soft cloth and a garden hose. While wiping your siding, make sure to wash the cloth frequently. This is to prevent dirt particles from scratching the siding finish. Rinse your siding afterward.

Cleaning Oil and Grease
You often need to use chemical cleaners to remove oil and grease stains on conventional siding. However, for fiber cement siding, all you need is some mild liquid dish soap. Add a few drops of dish soap to the damp cloth and wipe it across your siding. Make sure to rinse off the suds immediately. Otherwise, the sun might dry the soapy solution and cause white streaks to form.

Getting Rid of Mold and Mildew
What if you still can’t get rid of dirt stains? Those dirt stains might be mold and mildew. You’ll need a mildew cleaner to remove them. Siding contractors recommend checking the label first to make sure it doesn’t contain chemicals that may damage your siding. For a list of these chemicals, refer to the siding manufacturer’s manual. Aside from the surface of your siding, you also need to pay attention to its caulking and paint coating. Caulking prevents water from entering gaps between panels while paint provides added protection from wear and tear. To make sure these two are in good condition, it’d be a good idea to have experienced contractors conduct routine inspections on your exterior.

Looking for experienced siding contractors in your area? Home Wizards, a family-owned company with nearly two decades’ worth of experience, offers a wide range of professional exterior services, including installation services. To schedule a consultation, call us at (770) 998-1809 or leave us a message here.