Siding is your home's skin. If your residence looks like it needs a house call from a dermatologist, maybe there are some things you can do first. You don't want to be the cause of a neighborhood infection.

Exterior siding can easily work loose, especially around window and door openings.

How Does It Work?

Siding is the wall covering of boards fastened to an exterior building frame or sheathing. Siding can be made of numerous natural and man-made materials including wood, vinyl, and aluminum. Most are either overlapping or interlocking, depending on their design, to keep moisture from easily penetrating the wall sheathing. Brick, stone, and stucco are also used as siding material.

What Can Go Wrong?

Siding boards can bow. Shingles can be damaged. Nails in vertical panels can pop out. Pieces of clapboard siding can split. Vinyl siding can be punctured or torn. Aluminum siding can suffer dents.

Fix-It Tip

Maintaining vinyl and aluminum siding is relatively easy. Simply wash it once a year with a mild soap solution. Remember that harsh cleaners can damage nearby plants.