Siding protects the structural integrity of your home and safeguards it from the weather 24/7. One of the most common problems with home siding is unhealthy mold growth. Wood is particularly susceptible to mold buildup and rot, and vinyl can easily become moldy as well. Mold can harm your health and damage your home, so it’s vital that you spot it and deal with it if it shows up on your siding. It’s even better to prevent mold growth!
Mold
When your siding begins to get moldy, you will see nasty looking patches on your exterior. It appears fuzzy, slimy, and can vary in color from dark green to bright red or black. If left untreated, mold can cause structural damage to your home. It’s unhealthy and can spark allergic reactions as well as provoke respiratory problems like asthma.
Pressure washing
One option for cleaning vinyl siding mold problems is pressure washing. This is best if done professionally because improper pressure washing techniques can damage your vinyl siding, blasting a hole through the vinyl material causing dents and warped areas.
Concentrated pressure can also leave streaks or water marks across the front of vinyl siding. If you decide to do the pressure washing yourself, make sure to use the widest setting on the pressure washer, and point straight at the siding, not at an upward angle.
Move the nozzle constantly and don’t focus too long on one spot or you risk forcing water underneath your siding which can cause you even bigger headaches. Pressurized hot water mixed with a mold-killing agent (such as this vinyl siding cleaner that’s specially designed for cleaning up mold) does wonders at cleaning off that nasty mold growth.
Vinyl Cleaners
Some cleaning products have chemical agents that kill mold before it has a chance to grow. Using a cleaner like that will keep the mold away and allow for longer periods between your home siding cleanings.
Water And Vinegar Solution + Some Elbow Grease. 30% white vinegar mixed with 70% water, makes a great all-purpose vinyl siding cleaner that will remove light mold and mildew stains. If your mold is not budging a stronger cleaning solution might be needed.
For a stronger homemade siding cleaner, mix together the following recipe:
- 1 gallon of water
- 1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent
- 2/3 cup powdered household cleaner
- 1 quart of liquid laundry bleach
Bleach
Bleach is not always recommended for mold cleanups. Using bleach can sometimes cause other problems with the materials you are cleaning. Vinyl siding cannot withstand the bleach onslaught. A little bleach, a good cleaning product, water and a lot of intense scrubbing will do the trick. You should use some kind of brush with a long handle, so you don’t get bleach on your hands. Environmentally friendly products are preferable to bleach.
Create your own environmentally friendly cleaning solution by mixing three parts vinegar with seven parts water. Scrub the moldy area with a cleaning solution and let it soak for five minutes before rinsing it thoroughly. If one round of cleaning doesn’t remove all the mold, clean it again until the mold is completely gone.
LET THERE BE SUN!
Mold grows in dark, damp places. Combat mold’s survival by allowing as much direct sunlight to shine on the exterior of your home as possible. That means trimming trees and keeping shrubs and other foliage tidy in order to help that natural remedy shine through.
IN CONCLUSION…
Preventing mold on your siding begins by monitoring and reducing the conditions that encourage mold growth in the first place. Keep a keen eye on your home’s siding for any signs of mold and be prepared to take action to prevent a major outbreak.
Stopping that mold before it becomes a problem will make all the hard labor worth it. For serious mold problems, don’t hesitate to call in the siding replacement near you: Bearclaw Services.
We at Bearclaw power washing services will work with you from the start, we will evaluate the condition of your siding and recommend the best solution. Sometimes a little cleaning is all you need, sometimes a siding replacement is recommended due to pitting and damage from long term mold growth.
If you spot mold on your siding, understand that the quicker you deal with it, the less mold you will have to remove. If mold appears, handle the issue by using a natural anti-fungal soap or a treatment recommended by the manufacturer. Test anything you use on your siding in a small area to verify it will work effectively and won’t cause any damage.
Contact Us
BEARCLAW is a Mercer County power washing company that has been performing painting and pressure washing for the past 20 years. We specialize in refurbishing home exteriors, decks, sidewalks and walkways, and roofs. We provide restoration of many surfaces including brick, concrete, roofing, stucco, vinyl and aluminum siding, wood, and cedar shake. Many people do not know that you can bring many surfaces back to their original beauty with the process of power washing.
Service towns in Mercer County, NJ area include Princeton, Pennington, Lawrence, East Windsor, West Windsor, Hamilton, Hopewell, Robbinsville, Hightstown, Windsor, Trenton, and Groveville. With 20 years’ experience, Bearclaw is a professional, high quality power washing service. Phone 609-882-1688 Email NJBEARCLAW@AOL.COM