Each season of the year brings its own potential hazards to a home’s exterior, and taking the appropriate steps to protect your home from the elements during winter, spring, summer, and fall is very important for maintaining the long-term integrity and resale potential of your home. Preparing for the winter beforehand is particularly necessary, as it can be very difficult to go out and make the needed fixes to protect a home during the coldest months of the year.

Protecting the exterior of your home consists of protecting two major areas — the yard and the outside walls. Let us look first at some of the steps you can take to protect your yard and get it ready for the springtime. Since too much water or lack of sunlight can kill the grass, a yard should be thoroughly raked so that there are not leaves that can trap the water of melting snow or block sunlight come springtime. Any bulbs that you would like to see blossom in the spring should also be planted just before winter begins. Quality landscaping contractors can help with either of these projects and make other recommendations to ensure that your yard comes back to life quickly once the winter season is over.

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Homeowners who need to install or replace the siding on the outside of their homes now have several options to choose from. Whereas in the past wood siding was the only type of siding that could be used, homeowners now have aluminum and vinyl siding as alternatives to traditional wood siding panels.

For many reasons, homeowners go with aluminum siding when it is time to install, repair, or replace siding, and there are several reasons why aluminum is such a popular option.

First of all, aluminum is a durable material and so it requires very low maintenance, especially if it is coated in plastic or vinyl. Denting is a possibility with aluminum siding as it is with just about any metal building product, but these dents can be smoothed out fairly easily.

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Wood siding is a common feature on U.S. homes, especially historic homes that have been around since the colonial days. Of course, wood siding is especially beautiful so it is a great aesthetic choice for nearly every home. Yet wood siding must also be maintained carefully because exposure to the elements can result in damage over time.

The first step in wood siding repair is making sure that you do whatever you can to prevent extensive damage in the first place. You need to paint or stain the wood and apply a sealant to keep insect and water damage to a minimum. Nevertheless, it is impossible to keep such things from harming your wood altogether, and there are several common problems with wood siding that most homeowners need to address at some point.

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Siding is a popular choice for the exterior walls of homes in the United States. Its ease of installation and relatively inexpensive cost make it a favorite of home builders. Furthermore, in a home remodeling project, siding is often chosen for the walls of home additions for the same reasons.

As a homeowner, you may very well be thinking of adding siding to your home or you now have to repair siding that has suffered wear and tear over the years. If you are installing siding, you should take aluminum siding into consideration as you make a list of your options. Unlike vinyl siding, aluminum siding will not become brittle over time or during the winter. It is also fairly malleable; thus, it is easy to customize pieces to fit the shape of a home and other buildings.

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When it comes to siding, most homeowners select either vinyl or wood. There are, however, a multitude of other options available. One of these is Hardie Board siding. Following is an overview of what it is, and why it should definitely be on your list of options if you’re having a home built or having your siding replaced.

What is Hardie Board Siding?

Concrete is the foundation of Hardie Board. Although it has the look of wood, it is literally a durable, fibrous “concrete board.”

Advantages of Choosing Hardie Board Siding

• Termite Resistant: Unlike wood, because Hardie Board is made from concrete, termites and other insects don’t eat it. This is extremely important if you live in a warmer climate where termites are almost always active.

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The thing that impacts the appearance of your house the most is its exterior siding. In addition to selecting a siding for its aesthetic qualities, more homeowners are looking for environmentally friendly options as well. Following are four eco-friendly, exterior siding options.

• Cedar Shingle Siding: This nature-friendly exterior siding is made from natural cedar. It is known for having the look of real wood and is commonly referred to as “shakes.” It can be stained, which many do in earthy colors like warm browns and cooling grays. These meld beautifully with natural surroundings. Staining cedar shingle siding, as opposed to painting it, has two benefits, ie; (i) it minimizes peeling; and is (ii) more environmentally friendly than using some paints.

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