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Avoid toxic chemicals that can leach into nearby lawns, as well as household ingredients like vinegar that can ruin paint and sealants. Instead, look for a very light detergent or a dedicated exterior siding cleaner. In a pinch, you can use a basic dish or laundry soap, but we suggest sticking with a dedicated cleaner.

If your siding is struggling with algae or moss, which indicates moisture issues, look for an outdoor cleaner that’s specifically designed to clear moss and algae stains. This is also a sign that you need to seal your clapboard against further problems.

There should be small gaps between your roof and the walls of your home, and other buildings. These small gaps let building materials shift, expand, and contract with weather and other outside forces, and they prevent moisture from wicking down walls from roofing and gutter systems. Without these strategic gaps, your home’s exterior and its finishes can sustain water damage, decay, peel, delaminate, and crack. However, there is a fine line between a smart gap and a problematic gap—all  gaps should be small, intentional, and covered or filled in with foam insulation to prevent pests from using them as access points.

Engineered wood siding is still a relatively new type of siding, so it’s hard to say with certainty how long engineered wood siding will last. That said, homeowners should expect to get somewhere from 20 to 30 years out of their engineered wood siding, especially if they keep up with maintenance, including painting it every 10 years. Painting the exterior of a house costs an average of $3,150.

Concrete log siding can last several decades, from 30 to 50 years or more, as long as you keep up with proper maintenance. Luckily, concrete log siding is much lower maintenance than typical types of wood siding, so you’ll also have fewer expenses during that time. To keep your concrete log siding in good shape, you’ll simply need to reseal it every two to five years. Confirm with your manufacturer to determine how often to reseal.