Thunderstorms roll across the Nebraska plains during July and test how well houses hold up against the wind. Here in Grand Island, our homes take a real beating from the elements. Between the scorching summer heat, the biting winter freezes, and the endless spring winds sweeping off the Platte River, your exterior has to be tough. Cement siding is a solid choice for local properties because that material is built like a tank. Even the toughest material needs attention depending on what month it is and what kind of weather we are dealing with in Grand Island, NE.
Timing Your Siding Projects Around Our Climate
Planning any exterior work around Nebraska weather is always a guessing game. When homeowners are looking at installing new cement siding or giving the old boards a fresh coat of paint, timing is very important. Contractors do not schedule major adhesive or caulking work when the temperature drops below freezing because those products will not cure right. Late spring and early fall usually hit that sweet spot. The humidity is not choking you yet, and the extreme freezes have backed off. Alpha Siding Co always tells homeowners not to rush the Cement Siding installation just to beat a storm season. Doing the work right means letting the materials breathe and settle into the local humidity swings we get around Stolley Park.
What Nebraska Weather Does to Cement Siding
Cement Siding handles hail a whole lot better than vinyl, which is a massive relief around Grand Island. Property owners still have to worry about moisture getting behind the boards during our heavy spring downpours. When that water freezes inside a small crack during a sub-zero January night, it expands. That is physics you cannot argue with, and it will pop a seam right open if you are not paying attention. The wind is another factor in Grand Island, NE. We get those 50-mph gusts out of nowhere, and they love to test the fasteners on your exterior walls. Checking your caulking and joints twice a year keeps those gusts from finding a weak spot.
Keeping Up With Maintenance Year-Round
Homeowners do not need to spend every weekend babying their walls, but a little seasonal walk-around goes a long way. After the cottonwood stops flying in June, take a garden hose and wash off the dust and grime. Do not blast it with a high-pressure commercial washer on max settings, though. Just a gentle rinse keeps the finish looking sharp. In the fall, clear out any leaves or packed dirt sitting right at the base where the Cement Siding meets the foundation. Keeping that bottom edge clear stops moisture from wicking up into the boards. If you spot a chip or a crack from a stray rock thrown by the lawnmower, touch it up right away before winter sets in. A few minutes with a matching touch-up kit now saves you from replacing a whole panel later. For homes and businesses in Grand Island, Alpha Siding Co provides Cement Siding services.