Exterior Finishes
Exterior finishes are the outwardly visible design elements of the home. These finishes are the face and the skin of your home and they provide character and street appeal. The exterior of your home likely is composed of several materials. Common siding finishes include stucco, brick, Hardiplank, wood shingles, masonry, metal, aluminum and plywood. Exterior finishes need to be durable and easy to maintain since they take a beating from the sun, wind, rain, heat and cold.
Maintenance
- 1x per year: Perform inspections for gaps in caulking, cracking stucco, failing paint/coatings and soil contact at the base of the siding.
- 2x per year: Keep vegetation trimmed away from the exterior surfaces at least 12-18” to prevent rub damage and to allow for inspections and service to the exterior walls.
- 1x per year: Time and weather will shrink and dry caulking so that it no longer provides a good seal. Caulking compounds and dispenser guns are available at hardware stores. Read instructions carefully to be certain that you select an appropriate caulk for the intended purpose. Colored caulking is available where larger selections are provided. As with any colored material, dye lots can vary. Latex caulking is appropriate for an area that requires painting; such as where wood trim meets the wall. Caulking that contains silicone will not accept paint; it works best where water is present, for example, where tub meets tile, or a sink meets a countertop.
