Protecting Siding From the Elements
Question: What is the best product to protect cedar siding, especially when it’s exposed to severe weather?
Answer: Western cedar is a very durable wood, but its surface characteristics are quickly changed by the actions of sunlight and water, especially in harsh climates. Although cedar is resistant to rot, it is not immune to it. Sections of cedar siding that are prone to rotting are unprotected end-grain areas and pieces near the ground.
Cedar siding should be coated with a finish that provides water repellency and protection from ultraviolet light. The finish should also contain a preservative that kills mold and mildew. Ideally, the finish should allow the wood’s grain to show through. For this reason, penetrating oil-based semitransparent stain is a good choice. It is lightly pigmented and provides water repellency. The pigments in the stain provide a small amount of protection from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. You can purchase this stain at a paint store or home center.
Clean the siding, and let it dry before applying the stain. Surface cleaning may be done with low-pressure power washing, using bleach in the wash water to kill mold.
Crunch Under Tiles Indicates Moisture
Q: The floor tiles in my 11-year-old home seem to be lifting. When we step on them, they make a crunching sound like there is sand under them. What causes this?
A: We assume that you are referring to tiles on a concrete slab. Moisture is collecting beneath the tiles and causing them to lift.
The crunching sound is probably efflorescence under the tiles. Efflorescence is caused by soluble salts in the concrete slab that dissolve in the water as it migrates through the slab. When the water evaporates, the salts remain under the tiles as an encrustation. This condition can occur even though you do not see standing water on the floor.
To prevent the problem, you will have to reduce or eliminate water below the slab with a drainage system around the perimeter of the foundation.
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