A siding calendar for Dover
Dover has been Delaware's capital since 1777, and its houses have stood through a long run of storms, summers and winters. Siding lasts longest when someone walks around the house each season and fixes small openings before water finds them. The weather figures in this calendar come from NOAA's engineering weather station at Dover Air Force Base, which sits in town.
Spring: March to May
- Walk the house on a dry day and photograph each wall so you can compare from year to year.
- Look for winter damage: cracked or loose panels, split boards, gaps at corners and trim, nails backing out.
- Check low on each wall, where snow and splash-back sit. Swollen boards, peeling paint or soft spots there mean water is getting in.
- Inspect flashing over windows and doors and where roofs meet walls.
- Clear gutters and downspouts so spring rain runs away from the walls.
Summer: June to August
The Dover Air Force Base station counts about 612 hours a year with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F. Humid air slows drying, and shaded walls stay damp longest.
- Wash the siding with a garden hose and a soft brush; a pressure washer can force water behind the laps.
- Look for mildew on north walls and behind shrubs, and clean it off before it stains.
- Trim plants and vines back from the walls so air can move.
- Aim sprinklers away from the house.
- Make repairs and re-caulk joints around windows, doors and penetrations.
Fall: September to November
NOAA lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 100 mph and a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.0 inches per hour at the base. Fall is the time to get ready for storms.
- Fasten anything loose: panels, trim, corner boards and shutters.
- Finish painting and caulking while nights are still warm enough for them to cure.
- Seal gaps where pipes, cables and vents pass through the wall.
- Clean gutters after the leaves fall.
- Drain outdoor faucets and put hoses away.
Winter: December to February
The station averages about 51 freeze-thaw cycles a year.
- Keep snow from drifting against the siding for long periods.
- Watch the eaves for ice that can push meltwater under the roof edge and down inside the wall.
- Check interior walls near windows and outside corners for damp spots or stains.
- After a windstorm, walk the house and look for panels that have lifted or come off.
- Note what needs fixing and plan it for spring.
Hiring for bigger repairs
When a seasonal walk turns up more than a few damaged pieces, get written bids from more than one company. Delaware law requires construction service businesses to register with the Office of Contractor Registration at the Delaware Department of Labor before beginning work in the state, and the department publishes a lookup of registered contractors. Check the company there before you sign.
Keep a record
Keep the siding brand, style and color, your seasonal photos, repair invoices and warranty papers in one place. It makes matching a replacement panel, filing a warranty claim and selling the house simpler.