HOME CARE · SIDING, PAINT & DECKS
Siding, Paint & Decks
Paint here is not decoration. It is the siding’s raincoat. Failed caulk is an open door. Peeling paint on one wall face is a message about sun and water, not just age. The summer dry window is the only viable season for exterior work; the maintenance calendar revolves around using it.
General guidance for typical Portland-area homes. Your home’s systems, age, and site may differ. When in doubt, ask. Electrical, gas, roofing work above the first story, and sewer repairs belong to licensed professionals.
TASK SCHEDULE
| TASK | FREQUENCY |
|---|---|
| Wash siding | Yearly (gentle: hose and brush) |
| Inspect & touch up caulk (windows, doors, trim joints, penetrations) | Yearly, in summer |
| Full exterior repaint | Roughly every 7–10 years for wood siding here; south- and west-facing walls weather first and may need earlier attention |
| Deck wash & inspect (fasteners, ledger, footings) | Yearly |
| Deck seal/stain | Every 2–3 years |
| Window weep holes clear | Yearly |
WHY THIS MATTERS IN THE PNW
Paint here is not decoration. It is the siding’s raincoat. Failed caulk is an open door. Peeling paint on one wall face is a message about sun and water, not just age. The summer dry window is the only viable season for exterior work; the maintenance calendar revolves around using it.
WHEN TO CALL A PRO
Electrical, gas, roofing work above the first story, and sewer repairs belong to licensed professionals. Nathan is not a licensed professional engineer; his observations are informational, drawn from his 23-year career in structural engineering.