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You should restain or refinish your home's cedar siding every three to seven years to maintain its appearance and ensure maximum protection. The precise frequency depends on several factors, including your local climate, the siding's exposure to severe weather like direct sunlight, rain, and wind, the quality of the initial stain application, the type of stain used, and the condition of the wood.

Homeowners in harsh climates with high humidity and significant direct sunlight should plan on restaining every three years, while those in milder locations can wait up to seven years. For the longest-lasting protection in particularly harsh environments, consider using an opaque stain.

If you're looking for a lower-maintenance alternative, vinyl or aluminum siding are options to consider. Although their installation cost may be higher, they don't require as much upkeep over time, which can provide more value, especially in areas with excessive rainfall or high humidity.

Look and feel for signs of damage after a hail storm. On vinyl siding, there will likely be cracks or holes. If you have steel or aluminum siding, look for dents and cracked or chipped paint. For wood and fiber cement boards, dents are the most common sign of hail damage.

To clean painted aluminum siding, use a mixture of mild detergent and water applied with a soft brush or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose to remove soap residue. For stubborn stains, cleaning aluminum siding with a power washer on a low-pressure setting can be effective. But avoid using high pressure, which could damage the paint.

You cannot install clapboard siding on a bare, unprepared surface. Clapboard siding requires a clean, sturdy base made from plywood or similar materials, sometimes called backerboard. Then, it needs an underlayment or sheathing, a moisture membrane to help protect the exterior wall.

Note that sometimes clapboard siding is caulked as it’s installed for additional protection. We don’t suggest this: Caulking the siding can trap moisture inside the clapboards and lead to moisture damage over time. The siding needs some space to “breathe,” especially in rainy weather.