Why a calendar helps
The village that became Johnson City was known as Johnson's Tank, where trains took on water, and then Johnson's Depot, before its state charter of December 1, 1869 under the name Johnson City, with Henry Johnson as first mayor. Siding tends to fail slowly: a loose corner one year, a split caulk joint the next, then soft wood behind it. A short look at the walls a few times a year catches those small problems while they are cheap. The checklist below is arranged by season, starting with winter, and each section takes about an hour with a ladder, a flashlight and a phone camera. Photograph the same walls from the same spots each time so changes stand out.
The design range this calendar uses
The temperatures quoted below come from NOAA's engineering weather data for Bristol/Tri-City (elevation 1,519 feet), about 17 miles north of Johnson City. They belong to that station. Its 99% winter design temperature is 14°F, and its 1% summer design temperature is 87°F with a mean coincident wet-bulb temperature of 72°F. NOAA lists no wind or rainfall design values for Bristol/Tri-City, so this checklist quotes none.
December through February
Bristol/Tri-City's winter design temperature of 14°F is the reason for most of these checks.
- Treat cold vinyl with care. It becomes brittle in low temperatures; keep ladders, snow shovels and toys from striking it.
- Look for cracks after a cold snap, especially near doors, gates and where kids play.
- Inspect the eaves after snow or ice. Meltwater that backs up under the roof edge can run down inside the wall.
- Check from indoors. Peeling paint, stains or a damp feel on the inside of an exterior wall can point to a leak outside.
- Make a list of anything you find and schedule repairs for a mild, dry stretch.
March through May
Spring is the season to clean up after winter and line up any bigger work.
- Walk the whole house and look for panels that have slipped, trim that has pulled away and gaps at corner posts.
- Clean the gutters and check that every downspout carries water several feet from the foundation.
- Study the tops of windows and doors. Streaks or stains below a head flashing suggest water is getting behind it.
- Find each kick-out flashing where a roof edge ends against a wall. If it is missing, add it to the repair list.
- Book contractors early for anything larger than a patch, before the summer schedule fills.
June through August
The station's summer design temperature of 87°F shapes this part of the year.
- Wash, don't blast. Use a garden hose, a soft brush and a cleaner the siding maker allows. A pressure washer can force water up behind the laps.
- Watch shaded walls and spots behind shrubs for mildew or algae, and clean it off before it stains.
- Trim plants back so leaves don't rest against the siding and air can move along the wall.
- Paint and caulk on the label's terms. Every can and tube lists temperature and humidity limits. Work early in the day or on the shady side, never on a wall in full afternoon sun.
- Aim sprinklers at the lawn. A head that wets the same wall every morning keeps the lowest boards damp.
September through November
- Close the gaps. Seal around pipes, cables, vents and light fixtures before cold weather.
- Finish outdoor paint and caulk while nights still stay warm enough for them to cure.
- Clean gutters again after the leaves have dropped.
- Shut off and drain outdoor faucets, and store hoses.
- Move firewood, bikes and stored items away from the walls so nothing traps moisture against the siding through winter.
Warning signs worth a second look
Whatever the month, a few signs mean a wall deserves a closer inspection:
- paint that blisters in the same place year after year;
- boards near the ground that give under a thumbnail;
- a musty smell in a closet on an outside wall;
- stains spreading from the lower corners of windows;
- a panel that rattles or bows when the wind picks up.
When a repair outgrows the weekend
If a walk-around turns up more than a few damaged pieces, ask two or three companies for written bids that price the same scope: removal, the replacement product, weather barrier and flashing, trim, a unit price for sheathing, permits and cleanup.
Tennessee requires a state contractor's license for a construction project of $25,000 or more, including materials, labor and profit, and the license must be held before a price is bid or offered. Ask each company what state license, if any, it holds and look the contractor up on the state's Verify tool (verify.tn.gov). Ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation, and ask who will pull any permits the job needs.
The siding file
Keep one folder, paper or digital, with the siding brand, profile and color name, paint colors, dated photos of each wall from your seasonal walks, repair invoices and warranty papers. Matching a replacement panel, filing a warranty claim or answering a buyer's questions all go faster with it.