Why is my house turning green?

Story and photo by Jason Creech

North Carolina is unique because we get to experience all four seasons of weather, sometimes in the same week. With the various range of temperatures especially this time of year you may notice the exterior of your house starting to turn green with mildew.

How does this happen? Why does this happen? How can you get rid of it?

One reason is that dirt accumulates on the surface of vinyl siding. Not only does that make the siding look unclean, but it can also lead to mildew because fungus often feeds on dirt and dust.

Another reason someone might find mildew on vinyl siding is that there is moisture somewhere on or beneath the surface. It could be that rainwater got trapped behind the siding or has saturated the ground and cannot dry out. This time of year, when the temperature stays cool most of the day and even colder at night, the siding does not get enough heat to dry, so it retains the moisture and is an invitation for mildew to start growing on a house.

Before a professional cleaning, and after.

Moisture and dirt are not the only culprits when it comes to mildew growing on vinyl. Mildew and other fungi thrive in dark places, so if part of the house is constantly shaded, it is more likely to develop a fungus problem. In North Carolina, it is most always the side of the house facing north that receives the shortest amount, if any, sunlight.

Moisture, lack of sunlight and dirt are all common causes of fungus growth on siding, but there are ways to help keep mold and mildew from growing. As with anything, keeping it clean is the best way to prevent dirt and mildew buildup. How you clean your home has a lot to do with how big it is and how much work you want to invest in it.

There are several cleaners that you can pick up at your local hardware or box store. Before using these yourself make sure you read all warning labels and directions, and make sure you are wearing any personal protective equipment that may be required while using these products.

How will you apply these cleaners to reach the peaks of your house? The most common method for cleaning the outside of a house is to use a pressure washer. The old way of pressure washing was to get the wand as close to the siding as possible and blast the dirt and grime away using high pressure. This is an outdated way of cleaning and potentially causes damage and does not kill the mildew and fungus.

You do not wash your clothes, dishes or vehicle with high pressure so it is a safe bet that it is not good for your house either. There is some type of detergent or cleaner that is used to help get these items clean.

How do you decide to clean it yourself or hire someone? Most of the time money is the biggest factor in deciding how to do it. A lot of people think hiring a professional is too expensive and that pressure washing is an easy task and you can spend a few hours on the weekend and knock it out yourself.

How much is the pressure washer you are going to buy? How many times will you use it after that first weekend, or will it sit in the garage and turn to junk? If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you must consider that a pressure washer is a piece of equipment like a lawnmower.

Imagine you need to cut an acre of grass; a weed eater, push mower, riding mower or zero turn can all get the job done, but some will take a lot longer than others. It is the same with pressure washers: the higher-grade equipment will get the job done quicker and more efficiently, but it may not be cost effective.

Then do you need to add a ladder to the cost in order to reach certain areas of the house? Is this something you want to risk doing?

How do you find a good professional? With any profession there are bad, good and great people in them. The biggest resource that can help you is the internet. Social media pages and profiles can help you find a trustworthy and reputable business that will service your home. When it comes to your biggest investment, always do your research and shop around to compare prices. Most true professionals have invested in better equipment and chemicals to make the process more economical.

A few questions to ask to help in your decision-making process are:

• What chemicals do you use?

• How long will it take you?

• What is your process from start to finish?

• What all is included in the price given?

• Are you insured?

The recommended cleaning schedule for your home is once a year. The benefits of a clean home include helping your exterior last longer, healthier living conditions, retaining your home value and curb appeal.

To learn more, call Jason Creech, owner of Home2Office Pressure Washing, at 919-795-1725.