YOUR HOMES SIDING
Like many roofs, Cedar has been used as a siding material for centuries for two major reasons. First cedar provides superior insulation, and second the wood itself contains high amounts of natural preservatives. The presence of these natural preservatives has led cedar siding owners through the years to believe that their homes shingles or siding needed little or no maintenance. The truth is that these natural chemicals are depleted over time and do need maintenance.
Over the years, rain extracts the natural preservatives from the wood and leaves it vulnerable to accelerated deterioration. As the preservatives are decreased, water enters the wood, causing the wood to expand and contract. This expanding and contracting creates cracks in the wood and provides places for algae, moss and fungi to take root. These living growths further deteriorate the wood as they draw food from it. Left unattended their spread will lead to premature siding problems.
Sunlight is also a major problem for cedar siding. The sun's rays break down the wood at a cellular level. As the cells are broken down on the top layer of wood, rain washes these cells away. This continuing cycle leads to the "graying" of cedar over the years and then eventually the black areas of mildew and green areas of mold. All cause rot and expensive repairs if not taken care of.
If your homes’ siding does not receive any maintenance, it may last 10 years or more, depending on the severity of the elements. On the other hand, proper maintenance and preservation techniques will insure a much longer and less expensive alternative.
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