A siding calendar for Provo
At 4,492 feet, Provo's siding goes through about 54 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year, according to NOAA's engineering weather data, and then a hot, dry summer under strong sun. The work below is timed so that walls go into winter sealed and come out of it inspected.
September and October: seal before the freezes
This is the most important window of the year.
- Walk around the house and look at every caulk joint: windows, doors, corners, hose bibs, vents and light fixtures. Replace anything cracked, shrunken or pulled away.
- Repaint bare wood on trim and siding while days are still warm enough for paint to cure.
- Fix loose or cracked pieces. Water that gets behind them now will freeze there.
- Clean gutters and downspouts so fall rain and later snowmelt are carried away from the walls.
November to February: winter watch
Provo's 99% winter design temperature is 10°F.
- Keep snow off the walls. Don't pile shoveled or plowed snow against siding or stucco. It melts slowly and soaks the bottom courses.
- Watch for ice dams at the roof edge. Meltwater that backs up can run down inside the wall.
- Look for frost or damp spots on interior surfaces of exterior walls, which can point to air leaks or missing insulation behind the siding.
March to May: spring inspection
After a winter of freezing and thawing, damage shows up in spring.
- Look for new cracks, split boards, popped nails and loose trim.
- Check the bottom edge of the siding near walkways and driveways where snow sat all winter.
- Wash the walls gently with a hose and a soft brush. Avoid pressure washers, which drive water behind laps.
- Book repairs early. Siding contractors fill their schedules quickly in spring.
June to August: sun and dry heat
NOAA gives Provo a 1% summer design temperature of 92°F with a mean coincident wet-bulb of only 63°F. The air is dry, and the sun at altitude is strong.
- Check south and west walls for fading, chalking paint and drying wood.
- Adjust sprinklers so they don't spray the walls. Repeated wetting and drying is hard on finishes.
- Look at the trim around windows, where sun and heat open joints first.
Storm season
NOAA lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph and a 100-year rainfall rate of 1.3 inches per hour for Provo. Summer storms are short but can bring wind and hail.
- After a storm, look for dents, cracks and missing pieces, and photograph damage before you clean up.
- Check soffits and fascia for loose sections.
Before you hire for repairs
- Describe the damage in writing and include photos, so every contractor quotes the same work.
- Ask what is behind the damage. Repeated freezing and thawing often means water has been getting in for a while; ask the contractor to check the house wrap and sheathing before patching the surface.
- Ask about timing. Caulk, paint and some siding products need warm, dry days to cure. A repair done in late fall may need a follow-up in spring.
- Check the license. Utah exempts small repair jobs under a set value from contractor licensing, but larger repairs and full replacements need a contractor holding the right license from the Division of Professional Licensing.
Keep records
Write down the siding product, color, install date and warranty. They make matching replacement pieces and filing a claim much simpler.