Protect Your Home

6 Approaches to Avoid Rot

Our experts at Colorado Siding Repair know that the best way to protect your home from rot and damage is to know the different areas where moisture can come in from the outside. It is by far easier to protect your home exterior with maintenance consistently overtime to keep the costs low and the curb appeal high. Just like Benjamin Franklin said so long ago, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Colorado’s climate is pretty dry but rot, mold, and related problems such as insect infestations are devastating to your home. Colorado Siding Repair, your trusted siding guide, wants to help you succeed in protecting your home and preventing these problems so you can have a healthy home for many years.

The Dangers of Rot & Moisture

Rot is dangerous because it is a problem that can spread through the house and impact the structural integrity of your home. Rot is an indicator that moisture is in your home and it can be the breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and insects. These are dangerous to you and your family’s health. Wherever moisture moves around your home, rot and water damage could be lurking just below the surface.

1. Protect Your Roof

Check your roof regularly and fix it quickly before it spreads. Remove debris, leaves, and branches from your roof as it could cause water to pool and moisture to collect. Take a look at your gutters and roof drains to make sure they are clear and working correctly. Also, make sure your roof is well-ventilated with ridge vents, soffit vents, or attic fans.

2. Watch Your Fascia Boards

The fascia boards are what connect your home and your gutters, they are prone to rot since they are so close to your gutters. Protect them from the elements by painting the ends of the boards and make sure that the boards aren’t split. Also, regularly clean gutters so there isn’t any debris clogging them. Remove and replace old fascia boards with James Hardie fiber cement fascia boards, unlike compressed wood, James Hardie fiber cement will not crack or split over time. Call Colorado Siding Repair for an appointment and we will inspect your fascia for you.

3. Inspect Your Decks, Porches, & Staircases

Spending time outside on your deck is the best way to enjoy the exterior of your home in the summer. Make sure you are managing the water flow in your garden, your gutters, and other roof runoff appropriately. Find types of decking and wood that is more “rot-resistant” like pressure-treated wood or species of wood like Cedar or Redwood. Also, remember to seal the wood on your deck to protect it over time. Make sure you give the deck a lip that extends over the fascia protecting the side of the home.

4. Remove Rotten Landscaping

Watch where water naturally pools in your garden and make sure the water moves through your garden and away from your home. Make sure garden planters and boxes that sit next to the home aren’t dumping water at the foundation of your home if so move them. Also, remember to clean your gutters and make sure downspouts are pouring out away from the foundation of your home.

5. Repair or Replace Your Siding

Partially or fully replacing your siding will protect your home for years to come. The walls of your home are vulnerable to the elements and are no different than the other areas of your home that need consistent maintenance. Colorado Siding Repair is your trusted siding guide and is happy to walk you through the process. Read 5 Steps to Getting Your Siding Done in 2020, to motivate yourself into action on this crucial piece. Our expert team will guide you through a full or partial siding replacement project sharing with you the top of the line brands from James Hardie fiber cement to LP SmartSide.

6. Paint Your Home

Keep your home’s paint in top condition so that it’s harder for moisture to make its mark. We exclusively use Sherwin Williams Duration on your exterior so you can be confident you are getting the best. In addition to inspecting your siding, we ALWAYS look at your paint to make sure your home is maximized in its protection against moisture and rot. Other than painting your home, James Hardie offers a great product with ColorPlus Technology that doesn’t require any paint since the siding has the color is pre-finished into the fiber cement composite. Contact Colorado Siding Repair to protect one of your most valuable assets, your home.