HOME CARE · SIDING, PAINT & DECKS
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.
[SIDING FAQ: supply 3–4 questions: e.g. ‘How do I know when to repaint vs. just touch up?’, ‘Why is the south wall always peeling first?’, ‘What makes a deck ledger a structural concern?’]
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. And on decks, the ledger connection where deck meets house is the structural detail that matters most.
General guidance for typical Portland-area homes. Your home’s systems, age, and site may differ. When in doubt, ask.
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, and failed caulk is an open door. Peeling paint on one wall face is a message about sun and water, not just age. On decks, the ledger connection (where deck meets house) is the detail that matters most; on sloped lots, footings join it: check both, and bring in a pro for anything that moves.
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.
FAQ: PLACEHOLDER
FAQ content will be added here after wording is approved.