How To Clean And Maintain Your Cladding At Home

Taking care of your wall cladding is a fairly simple thing to do. Here’s what you can do to get the most out of them. 

So you’ve had your exterior, vinyl wall cladding for some time now, and it’s starting to look a little discoloured, blemished, and rough around the edges. That’s not a problem, however, since you’ll find that cleaning and maintenance on your wall cladding doesn’t have to be a big deal, not if you do it correctly. There are a few ways to go about doing this, and the one you select is pretty much up to you, there is no better or worse way of taking care of your home’s wall cladding.

• Cloths

It is best to use gentle materials and techniques when cleaning your exterior cladding, especially vinyl cladding, to avoid unwanted scratches, cracks, or dents. So avoid things like wire brushes, or anything else which is equally harsh. A soft, lint free cloth is perfect for the job. Just use it alongside a bucket of soapy water and get going, gently washing away any dirt that may have accumulated over time. Having said that, this job would be a whole lot easier for those who clean regularly, otherwise dirt builds up to the point where it is difficult to remove, especially on exterior walls and in corners.

• Soft bristle brushes

When it comes to cleaning the corners, however, one of the best ways to do it is by using a brush with soft bristles, also with soapy water and maybe even in conjunction with a brush. Again take care to be gentle with the cleaning, since overdoing it can cause severe scratches, as would using a brush with hard, wiry bristles.

• Power Cleaners

Power washers are a great and fairly easy way to clean your wall cladding, if you do it properly. When done incorrectly, it can cause a lot of problems for your wall. Always remember that when using a power cleaner to keep it at a horizontal angle, that is, at eye level. The reason for this is that if you spend too much time spraying jets of water up into the slats of cladding, you will almost certainly damage the sealant which sits behind the cladding itself. This will also cause a build-up of water in the area between the wall and the cladding which will cause mould and mildew to form, or even worse, it will start to rot.

• Mould and Mildew

Mould and mildew can be quite a challenge to get rid of, especially on exterior walls, or walls that are constantly exposed to damp conditions. Simply using soapy water and a cloth or brush just isn’t going to get the job done the way you want it to. Even if you temporarily get rid of the mould like this, it will probably just return again in a short while. When mould occurs, it is best to use a mould removal product; but take care to call the cladding manufacturer first to see if your product is safe for the cladding, and whether or not applying such a substance might void your warranty.

• Maintenance

Maintenance on cladding is fairly simple, and it is more about just baring certain things in mind. For instance, keep barbeques a safe distance from the wall when in use to avoid it from burning. Be careful of which pesticides you use, especially on vinyl cladding. Some of them can cause severe melting, or discolouring of the materials so try to avoid direct contact. In some cases, direct sunlight can be fairly harmful to the cladding as well, but this depends on what kind you have. Try planting trees strategically to filter out the sun’s harmful rays, and you’ll find your walls look as they should for much, much longer.

That’s it. As you can see, taking proper care of your cladded walls is not a particularly difficult task, but care should always be taken to do it properly. Looking after your walls by washing them gently and regularly, and taking steps to ensure the proper maintenance of them will keep them lasting for as long as you need them.

Though it is a good idea to enlist in professional help at least annually, to have your cladding inspected. If you do this, then there is no reason why they won’t last for ages and ages.