How Often Do You Paint Composite Wood Siding?

Composite wood siding needs to be regularly painted, varnished, stained, or sealed to maintain its water and moisture resistance. Generally, all wood sidings (both composite and natural wood) should be refinished in the range of every five years to reduce moisture loss. Home exteriors exposed to direct sun (such as a south-facing wall) might need refinishing more often. In these cases, the sun's UV rays break down the polymers in varnishes, paints, and other finish sources more quickly. For homeowners looking for healthier alternatives, check out this Rise article on healthy wood finishes.

How to Clean Composite Wood Siding?

Another common maintenance task associated with wood siding is periodically cleaning the siding. Regular painting and refinishing the siding will help to avoid the buildup of unsightly green mold or mildew. However, shaded walls exposed to excess moisture are especially vulnerable to this type of damage.

Fortunately, composite wood siding can be easily cleaned by homeowners using a high-pressure spray nozzle connected to a garden hose and some simple cleaners. To clean composite wood siding that shows visible signs of mold or mildew, follow these steps:

1. Spray the siding with the high-pressure nozzle on your hose to remove any dust or debris.
2. Mix one part bleach to three parts water in a simple spray bottle and spray the areas with visible mold damage. The bleach solution will kill the mold and mildew after 20 to 30 minutes.
3. After about half an hour, rinse the bleach off with your garden hose.
4. Wash the rest of the siding with water and mild, biodegradable laundry detergent, scrubbing lightly across the siding.
5. Rinse off the detergent with abundant water and let dry.

It's best to clean your siding on a sunny day to allow the sun to dry the siding quickly. Once dried, refinish the siding with the appropriate sealant, stain, or varnish.

How is Composite Wood Siding Installed?

For homeowners looking to save on installation costs, composite wood siding can be a fun, DIY project. Before installing the engineered siding, you will need to install a weather or vapor barrier behind the siding to protect your home's interior. Secondly, the windows, doors, and walls also need to be properly flashed and sealed before installing the siding. Generally, the trim used around windows and doors needs to be thicker than the siding to avoid air leakage.

When you are ready to install the siding, begin with a starter panel under the first course. The starter panel will orient the boarding at the proper angle to avoid moisture penetration and guide your overlap for the rest of the courses. Most composite wood siding products will have recommended overlaps. For example, an 8-inch board might require a minimum of a 1-inch overlap, resulting in a 7-inch reveal for each panel.

Engineered wood panels are generally easy to cut to length with the use of a basic electric saw. The use of galvanized nails should penetrate at least 1.5 inches into the studs for proper strength. Do not use regular nails as exposure to moisture can lead to rusting, discoloring your cladding.

Once you have finished installing your wood composite siding, the next step is to caulk around all the windows and doors. For a well-sealed building envelope, use a caulking gun to seal around the joints where the siding panels connect and around all trim. Once the caulking is finished, you can begin painting or varnishing.

How To Paint Composite Wood Siding?

Some composite wood siding products might have specific indications regarding which paint products work best. In general, however, acrylic latex coatings designed specifically for wood composites should do the trick.