Wet-bulb hours at Milwaukee/Mitchell
At Milwaukee/Mitchell, about 22 miles north of Racine, NOAA's engineering weather data counts, in an average year, about 207 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 848 hours above 67°F. Those counts belong to the Milwaukee/Mitchell station.
Racine households in QuickFacts
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts lists 31,970 households in Racine for 2020-2024, with 2.39 persons per household over the same period. For 2020-2024 it gives an owner-occupied housing unit rate of 60.2% and a median value of owner-occupied housing units of $166,500.
Gear for each walk around the house
The tasks below are spread through the year, and each takes the same small kit. Keep it in one bag:
- a phone for photos, shot from the same spots each time so changes stand out;
- binoculars, so the upper walls can be checked from the ground;
- a flashlight for the shade under eaves, porch ceilings and deck boards;
- a blunt screwdriver for pressing gently on trim and the lowest course;
- a tube of exterior sealant, a caulk gun and a utility knife;
- a soft brush on a pole and a garden hose with a spray nozzle;
- a dated notebook, or a running note on your phone.
As the snow pulls back
- Walk the full perimeter once the ground near the walls is clear.
- Look along the bottom course for panels that cracked, bowed or pulled loose over winter.
- Check corners and the trim at the base of the wall for gaps that opened up.
- Find any spot where snow sat against the siding for weeks, and look there for stains, swelling or peeling paint.
- Note where meltwater pooled against the foundation, and plan to regrade or extend a downspout there.
- Press the screwdriver gently on wood trim near the ground. Wood that gives way under light pressure needs a closer look.
Late spring: rinse and refasten
- Clean the gutters once the trees finish dropping seeds and flowers, and make sure downspouts discharge away from the wall.
- Rinse each wall from the top down with a garden hose. Skip the pressure washer: it can drive water behind laps and strip paint.
- Use a soft brush and a cleaner the siding maker approves on green or dark patches, then rinse again.
- Look for panels that slid out of their locks and nails backing out of trim.
- Trim shrubs and vines so they stand clear of the wall and air can move behind them.
High summer: heat on the walls
- On sunny walls, check vinyl for waves, buckling or panels pinched tight at their ends.
- Keep grills, fire pits and patio heaters well away from siding.
- Look for paint that is chalking, blistering or fading, and note which walls show it first.
- If you plan to paint, follow the temperature and humidity limits printed on the paint can.
- Peek behind downspouts, shutters and other mounted items for staining or trapped debris.
Fall: caulk and close up
- Recaulk gaps at window and door trim, around hose bibs, vents and light fixtures, using a sealant rated for the materials it joins.
- Clean the gutters again after the leaves come down.
- Push mulch and soil back so they stay below the bottom course.
- Move firewood stacks and stored items away from the wall for the winter.
- Check the soffit vents and fascia for gaps where birds, wasps or rodents could get in.
Winter: watch from inside and the driveway
- Keep snow from being piled against the siding when you clear walks and drives.
- Watch for ice dams along the eaves; meltwater from them can run down behind the wall.
- From indoors, look for new stains on walls or ceilings under windows.
- Skip ladder work on icy days. Note anything you see and deal with it at the thaw.
Once a windstorm passes
- Walk the house and look for panels that lifted, cracked or went missing, starting with the corners and the gable ends.
- Gather any loose pieces you find in the yard; they help a crew match color and profile.
- Photograph damage before anything is moved or repaired, for your insurer.
- If the barrier behind the siding is exposed, cover it temporarily from the ground if you safely can, and call for a repair.
Work to hand off to a crew
Some jobs belong on a contractor's list, not yours: anything above a second story, any repair that needs panels unlocked across a large section, work near power lines, replacing rotted sheathing or framing, and reflashing a window or roof-to-wall joint. If a ladder feels unsteady, the task can wait for someone with staging.
Gathering repair prices
When the list of problems grows past small fixes, collect written prices. Ask each contractor:
- What state license or registration, if any, covers this work, and what is the number?
- Which city permits does the repair need, and who pulls them?
- Can you show proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation?
- Will replacement panels or boards match what is on the wall, and what happens if they don't?
- What warranty covers the repair, and in writing?
A notebook for the walls
Keep a single notebook for the outside of the house. Write the siding product and color, where spare pieces are stored, each walk's date and findings, the sealant and paint you used, and every repair with its contractor and price. When a problem returns to the same spot, the notes show it, and any future bid starts from a clear record.