A dark streak under a window or a patch of siding that stays wet after the rest of the wall dries can tell you where to start looking. Before you wash the stain away or cover it with a fresh coat, see if you can figure out why water keeps reaching that spot.
Follow the stain up the wall
If you see a streak partway down the siding, look above it. A gutter that overflows at one corner can send water down the wall. A mark near a window could point to an issue with the trim or flashing, the material that helps direct water away from the opening. The stain is a clue, but its location alone doesn’t tell you exactly where the water is coming from.
Check where the siding meets the ground, deck, or patio
If the discoloration is mostly along the lowest boards, watch what happens during the next rain. Does water splash off the patio and onto the siding? Does a downspout empty next to the house? Is there a spot beside the deck that stays damp long after the rest of the wall dries? Take a couple of photos from ground level, one after the rain and another when the wall has had time to dry. That gives us something to work with when you call.
Figure out what the wood needs once the water issue is addressed
If the wood is still sound, the affected area may be a candidate for cleaning and refinishing. If boards are soft, warped, or coming loose, they need a closer look before any new finish goes on. See examples of our work in the South Jersey log home and wood siding restoration gallery.
Get recurring stains checked before winter
If the same spot keeps showing up after rain, November is a good time to find out what’s happening, even if refinishing has to wait for suitable weather. We’re based in Shamong and work with homeowners in Medford Lakes, Tabernacle, and Southampton in Burlington County, along with nearby South Jersey communities.
Call Deck Restoration Plus at 609-268-3436 for a free wood siding restoration estimate, or tell us what you’re seeing.
