A siding calendar for Bowling Green
The town was named "Bolin Green" at the first Warren County commissioners meeting in early 1798, according to the city's history page, and its houses have gone through a great many rainy springs since. Siding holds up longest when someone looks at it on a schedule and closes small gaps before water finds them. This calendar sets out that schedule.
The temperatures and totals below are the National Weather Service's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bowling Green. NOAA's engineering weather set has no station near the city, so this calendar gives no wind speeds, design temperatures or freeze-thaw counts.
The year in numbers
The National Weather Service gives Bowling Green an annual average temperature of 59.1°F (average maximum 69.7°F, average minimum 48.5°F), normal annual precipitation of 50.10 inches and normal annual snowfall of 8.5 inches. July is the warmest month, averaging 79.7°F, and January the coldest, averaging 37.2°F. Put simply: lots of rain, a little snow, warm summers and cool winters. The checklist follows that pattern.
January and February: the cold months
January is the coldest month on the normals, at an average of 37.2°F.
- Handle vinyl gently in the cold. Keep ladders, shovels and anything hard from striking it.
- Clear snow away from the bottom of the walls when it does fall.
- Look at the eaves after a freeze for ice that could send meltwater under the roof edge and into the wall.
- Check inside walls near windows and outside corners for damp spots, stains or peeling paint.
- Write down repairs and plan them for drier spring days.
March to May: the rainy stretch
With about 50 inches of precipitation a year, rain is the main thing these walls deal with.
- Walk the house during or right after a heavy rain. Watch where gutters overflow and where water splashes onto siding.
- Clean gutters and downspouts, and add extensions so water lands well away from the foundation.
- Look over window and door heads for streaks or stains below the flashing.
- Check corners and trim for gaps and loose pieces.
- Look low on each wall for swelling, soft spots or peeling paint near the ground.
- Line up a contractor for anything bigger than a touch-up before summer schedules fill.
June to August: the warm months
July averages 79.7°F on the normals.
- Set sprinkler heads carefully. Bowling Green Municipal Utilities draws its water from the Barren River, treats it at a plant that can handle up to 45 million gallons a day and sends it through more than 290 miles of water mains to five storage tanks. Whatever you put on the lawn, keep it off the siding.
- Wash the walls with a garden hose, a soft brush and a mild cleaner the siding maker allows. A pressure washer can drive water behind the laps.
- Watch for mildew on shaded and north-facing walls.
- Trim plants so air moves between leaves and siding.
- Paint and caulk within the temperature and humidity limits on the label, avoiding walls in full afternoon sun.
September to December: closing up
- Finish exterior painting and caulking while nights are still mild enough for curing.
- Seal gaps around pipes, cables and vents.
- Clean gutters after the leaves are down.
- Drain outdoor faucets and store hoses.
- Move firewood and stored items off the walls.
Extra checks on an older house
If your house is an older one, it deserves a few more questions each spring:
- Count the layers. Look at the edge of the siding at a corner or under a window. Two or three layers of siding over the original boards can hide rot.
- Watch painted wood trim and sills. These usually fail before the siding does.
- Note any old caulk that has hardened and split; replace it rather than covering it.
- Before a big repair, ask the contractor how they'll handle old painted surfaces and what they'll do if tear-off uncovers soft sheathing or framing.
For landlords
Census QuickFacts counts 30,633 Bowling Green households in 2020-2024 and an owner-occupied housing unit rate of 36.6%. If you own a rental, add the siding walk to your regular property checks, ask tenants to report loose panels, leaks or damp spots inside, and keep a dated photo of each wall so you can tell new damage from old.
When repairs get bigger
If a seasonal check finds more than a few damaged pieces, ask at least two companies for written bids that price the same items. Ask each one which city building permits the job needs and who will apply for them, ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation, and make sure the business name on the bid matches the contract.
Keep a record
Keep your dated photos, the siding brand, profile and color, paint names, repair invoices and warranty papers in one folder. It speeds up the next repair, a warranty claim or a sale.