A siding year in an irrigated town
Twin Falls grew on irrigation. Milner Dam, finished on November 15, 1904, raised the Snake River 38 feet to feed the canals that opened the Twin Falls tract. Today the yards around most houses are watered too, and sprinkler season sets much of the siding calendar. This checklist goes through the year one season at a time.
There's no NOAA engineering weather station near Twin Falls, so this calendar quotes no temperatures or snow figures. It works from the seasons themselves.
Spring: March to May
- Walk all four walls once the snow is gone. Look for cracked, loose or bowed panels, gaps at corners and trim, and nails backing out.
- Check the bottom courses where snow and slush sat against the house. Soft wood, swollen engineered siding and peeling paint near the ground are the first signs that water got in.
- Start the sprinklers and watch them. Before the system runs on a timer for the season, turn it on zone by zone and see where the water lands. Aim heads away from siding, windows and the foundation.
- Clean gutters and make sure downspouts carry water away from the walls.
- Book repairs early. Contractors' calendars fill as the weather warms.
Summer: June to August
The City of Twin Falls says its water is groundwater from the Snake River Plain aquifer, drawn from the Blue Lakes Well Field and the South and Southeast systems. Most summer watering uses that same supply, so keep checking where it falls.
- Wash the siding with a garden hose and a soft brush. Skip the pressure washer; it can drive water up behind the laps.
- Replace damaged pieces and re-caulk joints around windows, doors, vents and hose bibs.
- Paint or stain wood and fiber cement within the temperature and humidity range on the product label.
- Trim shrubs so they don't touch the wall. Leaves and branches against the siding hold moisture and scrape the finish.
Fall: September to November
- Blow out or shut down the sprinklers before the first hard freeze, and drain outdoor faucets.
- Seal gaps where pipes, cables and vents go through the wall, before cold air and mice find them.
- Finish painting and caulking while nights are still warm enough for the products to cure.
- Clean gutters again after the leaves come down.
- Move firewood and stored items away from the walls for the winter.
Winter: December to February
- Keep drifts off the siding. Snow left against a wall for weeks keeps the lowest courses wet.
- Watch the eaves for icicles and ice dams; meltwater backing up at the roof edge can run down inside the wall.
- Look inside too. Damp spots, frost or peeling paint on interior walls near windows can mean water or moist air is getting into the wall.
- Take notes and photos of anything you find. Most siding repairs wait until spring.
When it's more than a touch-up
If the spring walk-around turns up more than a few damaged pieces, get written bids. Idaho's Contractor Registration Act has made it unlawful since January 1, 2006 to work as a contractor without registering; only a single casual, minor or inconsequential project under $2,000 in total is exempt. Ask for the registration number and look it up on DOPL's license search before work starts.
Keep a record
Keep your seasonal photos, the siding brand, color and style, receipts for repairs and paint, and any warranty papers in one folder. That record helps with the next repair, a warranty claim or a sale.