Winterizing Your Home's Exterior: Siding Edition

Midwest winters are hard on home exteriors. An afternoon of preparation each fall protects your siding — and everything behind it — all winter long.

Walk the Perimeter

Look for cracks, gaps, loose panels, or lifted nail heads. Water gets behind siding in fall, freezes in winter, and expands the gap with every freeze-thaw cycle.

Seal the Gaps

Check caulk around windows, doors, and where siding meets trim. Replace anything cracked or pulling away. A quality exterior caulk bead is the cheapest waterproofing in the world.

Trim Vegetation

Branches that touch your siding scrape the surface in wind and hold moisture against the wall. Trim everything back to a clear gap.

Clean the Surface

Dirt and grime hold moisture and accelerate material breakdown. A gentle wash with a garden hose and soft brush (never high-pressure blasting) keeps siding healthy.

Check Ventilation

Make sure vents behind the siding are unobstructed so moisture can escape the wall cavity.

Find a problem you cannot fix from the ground? We repair siding across the Metro East — schedule a free inspection before the first hard freeze.