Making Care and Maintenance Easy
LP® SmartSide® products are engineered to look beautiful with easy maintenance. With a few simple care tips, you can preserve the attractive appearance of your home for many years to come.
Preventative LP SmartSide Maintenance Tips
- Check for small construction dents and gouges. Fill these indentations with an exterior, non-hardening sealer and prime before finishing.
Make sure sprinklers do not spray water directly onto the siding or trim.- Keep roof surfaces and gutters in working order so water is diverted away from the siding.
- Keep shrubs, trees and plants a minimum of one foot from the siding.
- Keep the painted surface free of mold, mildew and algae.
- Make sure your siding and trim are a minimum of six inches from the ground. Don't allow garden mulch to build up and compromise your clearance.
- Maintain a one-inch per foot slope away from the foundation, so water will drain away from the house.
- Replace missing or damaged caulking around the joints and seams where different surfaces meet.
- Repaint your siding before the existing paint fails. Your local weather conditions will affect the longevity of your paint's performance.
Inspecting Your LP SmartSide Trim & Siding
Inspection is an essential part of maintenance. Perform the following checks once or twice a year.
Inspect your paint for cracking, peeling, fading or chalking.- Pay special attention to the bottom rows and under the window casings.
- Check all joints and seams for cracking or missing sealant.
- Look for signs of mildew on painted surfaces.
- Inspect your flashing and gutters for damage or blockage.
Repainting Your Exterior
When painting or repainting, choose an exterior 100 percent acrylic latex paint or a premium latex blend. Make sure the paint is recommended for factory primed wood composite siding and comes with a minimum five-year warranty. Although not recommended, satin and semi-gloss oil-based paints can be used.
Wash
Remove all dust and mildew from the surface by washing the siding with a brush, starting at the top and working your way down. Do not use a pressure washer.
Spray
Once your surfaces are clean and dry, paint may be applied using a sprayer, roller or brush. If you use a sprayer or roller, you'll need to pay special attention that the bottom edges are covered with paint.
Apply 2nd Coat
We recommend applying two coats of unthinned paint at the manufacturer's required spread rate.