Steel Siding Maintenance: Care, Upkeep, and Repair Tips

Thinking of installing steel siding on your home? It’s a great choice for a number of reasons: Steel siding has high durability, it’s resistant to pests and the elements, and it features a long lifespan. On top of that, the maintenance and upkeep is a breeze.

Keep reading to get an in-depth look at steel siding maintenance, including how to clean it, what you don’t need to do (and shouldn’t do), and whether you need to worry about rust.

How Do I Care for Steel Siding?

You’ll find that caring for steel siding is much easier than caring for wood siding or other materials. Here’s what you’ll need to do and what you should avoid.

How to Clean Steel Siding

Because of its low-maintenance coating, durability, and weatherproof design, the only real care that TruLog steel siding needs is a yearly rinse with a garden hose to keep it looking great. 

However, if you have an excess of dust and grime buildup or prefer to do a deeper clean, you can follow the steps below:

• Pre-rinse the siding with a garden hose to remove any loose dust and debris.
• Prepare a mild cleaning solution — a small amount of dish soap or even laundry detergent in a bucket of warm water works perfectly.
• Use a scrub brush — preferably a soft bristle brush that won’t scratch the finish — and your cleaning solution to gently scrub small sections.
• Once dirt and grime is loose, rinse it away.

For areas with mold or mildew, try a mild 1:3 bleach solution to kill the fungus while you gently scrub it away. If you have particularly stubborn grime, you can use a pressure washer to remove it. However, pressure washing can damage siding, so be careful to set the pressure to its lowest setting.

What to Avoid When Caring for Steel Siding

The most common mistake that people make when caring for their home’s siding — including steel siding — is cleaning too aggressively. Even though steel is incredibly durable, you can still damage the finish if you’re using the wrong cleansers or tools.

Here’s what not to do:

• Avoid using harsh chemicals, acid-based cleaners, solvents, or abrasive products as your cleanser of choice. Even though these products are often marketed as ideal for removing tough grime on siding, the reality is that they can etch or scratch the finish, leaving it permanently damaged.
• Use only soft-bristle brushes or other soft cleaning tools, like sponges or cleansing cloths. Never use wire brushes, steel wool, or other abrasive tools because these can scratch the siding’s finish.
• While you can use a power washer to remove particularly stubborn dirt, it can’t be emphasized enough: Avoid power washing with high pressure, which can damage or even dent the siding’s finish. In addition to using the lowest pressure setting possible, it’s also smart to use a wide fan nozzle rather than a concentrated jet, which can dent the siding.

What Steel Siding Maintenance Is Required Each Year?

TruLog steel siding maintenance is incredibly minimal. Unless your siding has sustained damage during extreme weather or another major event, the most you’ll have to do each year is clean your siding by rinsing it with a hose. Unlike wood and other types of siding, TruLog’s steel siding doesn’t need to be repainted, stained, or sealed.

Apart from annual cleanings, the other steel siding maintenance task on your to-do list should be regular inspections. Examine the siding fully at least once per year (though twice is better, in the spring and the fall) and after storms that bring high winds or hail. Look for scratches, dents, or punctures that may need to be repaired. 

Does Steel Siding Rust?

If you install a high-quality product and maintain it properly, your steel siding shouldn’t rust. For instance, TruLog steel siding is impervious to water damage, and it will stand up better to wind, rain, snow, hail, and UV radiation than just about any other type of siding out there. As long as the finish remains intact on steel siding, it won’t rust. 

This is because TruLog’s steel siding features a cold-rolled steel core that has been infused with a galvanizing alloy that creates a corrosion-resistant barrier. Essentially, the steel is submerged in a molten zinc and aluminum mixture that permanently bonds to the steel, creating what’s sometimes called galvalume. The woodgrain or color finish then goes on top of that with a UV-protectant clear coat, adding another layer of protection.

However, there are a couple of rare instances where rust can happen, especially if you’ve chosen a lower-quality steel product. Corrosive agents that damage the siding’s finish — like harsh acids used for cleaning (not recommended) or using driveway salt near the siding — can eat away the finish and cause the steel underneath to rust.

Likewise, scratches and damage that penetrate the finish can also cause rust. This is why it’s smart to use padded stabilizers when leaning a ladder against your siding, and to take care while mowing or using a string trimmer so that you don’t accidentally fling stones or other hard objects at the siding.

What Should I Do If I Find Damage During My Siding Inspection?

If you keep up with steel siding maintenance like regular cleanings, inspections, and avoiding the use of tools or products that can scratch or otherwise harm the siding’s finish, it should be virtually maintenance-free. However, accidents do happen — and extremely powerful storms may cause damage too.

Here’s what you can do to repair dents, scratches, and punctures.

Repairing Dents

If your home’s exterior becomes dented, repairs will depend on the severity. Most homeowners simply ignore minor dents. If they’re small and haven’t compromised the siding’s finish, then they’re unlikely to affect the curb appeal of your home.

For larger dents, you can use a suction cup dent puller, which is an automotive tool designed to help remove dents and dings from car fenders. Use it just as you would on a car by placing the tool over the dent and applying just enough suction to pull the steel outward so that it flattens out again.

If you’re looking at truly large dents, you may need to consider replacing the siding panels that are damaged. Even with tools like a dent puller, it can be difficult to restore a perfectly flat surface.

Repairing Small Scratches

While you should never need to fully repaint TruLog steel siding, scratches are the rare case where some painting is required. Fresh paint over the scratches will prevent rust and other problems down the road. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Clean the area thoroughly with a mild detergent and sponge or soft-bristled brush.
• Use a rust-inhibiting primer specially designed for metal to thoroughly cover the scratched area. 
• Once dry, cover the primer with a matching paint shade. Use 100% acrylic latex paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish. 

For small scratches, you can make this process even easier. Use automotive paint pens — one containing primer and another with a matching paint shade — to quickly and easily touch up the scratch.

Repairing Punctures

Punctures are exceedingly rare — and that’s because TruLog steel siding comes with a long list of benefits, including enhanced durability, weather resistance, and fire resistance. It also offers Class 4 impact resistance, which is as tough as it gets when it comes to puncture prevention. 

However, if you do sustain a puncture to your siding during an extreme weather event or other catastrophic scenario, your best bet is to simply replace the entire panel. And that leads to more great reasons to choose TruLog steel siding. 

Not only are individual panels easy to replace, but each comes with a UV-protectant clear coat that preserves the color and finish. You won’t need to worry about trying to match a new panel to older, sun-faded siding, like you would with vinyl siding. 

Make Steel Siding Maintenance Simple With TruLog

With TruLog, steel siding maintenance is easy. A protective UV-resistant coating keeps the finish looking great for decades, which means you’ll never need to repaint it. On top of that, it’s impervious to threats like moisture and pests, and it comes with some of the best fire and impact resistances available. All of these factors combine to create siding that will last for years with very little upkeep. 

To learn more about available siding styles, colors, and accessories, download our free steel siding catalog.