The James Hardie siding on your home provides a distinctive and attractive look. Made from top quality materials and using their own ColorPlus® technology that assures lasting color that won’t fade; it can make your home the envy of the neighborhood.
Despite its superior quality, incredible durability, and amazing good looks, James Hardie board siding isn’t impervious to getting a bit dirty from time to time. It needs very little maintenance and is resistant to mold and mildew. However, airborne dust, dirt, and pollen, not to mention the occasional bird dropping, can mar an otherwise perfect look. It’s a good thing, then that cleaning fiber cement siding is quite easy to do if you follow these easy tips.
Cleaning With Soap and a Soft Brush
In most cases, this is the best method for cleaning your Hardie board siding. To complete the job, you’ll need the following items:
- A mild biodegradable soap (dish soap is a good choice)
- A soft brush or a cloth
- A bucket
- A garden hose
Be sure to use a soap with no harsh chemicals, as these can damage fiber cement siding. Dilute concentrated soap, like dish soap, in warm water. You don’t need to use too much to do a good job, and excess amounts of soap will create too much suds that will require more effort to rinse away the residue.
You’re now ready to start cleaning. Start from the top and work your way down. Clean the dirt away by gently scrubbing the siding. Be sure to go in the direction of the siding. For example, if you have horizontal planks, scrub in a side-to-side motion. For hard to reach areas, you can use an extension pole with a brush or sponge attachment. You can find these at most hardware and home improvement stores. Note: Be sure to use great caution when working near power lines.
The final step is to rinse off any remaining suds or soap residue using your garden hose.
Cleaning With a Power Washer
For larger surfaces or for a more significant buildup of dirt and grime, this method may be preferable for cleaning your fiber cement siding. Power washers can be a fast and convenient way to clean your James Hardie board siding, but you must be careful; the highly pressurized water could potentially cause some damage to the siding. If you’re not entirely confident in your abilities using these devices, you may want to consider entrusting the job to an experienced professional.
To avoid causing any damage, be sure your power washer is no more powerful than 1500 psi, only use a wide fan tip attachment, and always stand at least 6 feet away from the wall.
James Hardie siding solutions are a beautiful addition to any home. With proper care, you can extend the life and beautiful appeal of your siding, and they come with a 30-year, transferable, non-prorated warranty. If you’d like to learn more about this extraordinary siding, contact Tulsa’s only James Hardie preferred siding contractor at Tulsa Renew to book your free siding consultation.
For official advice from James Hardie on how to clean their products, click here for their maintenance guide.