Home Repair Rumors That Secretly Cause Damage: Part 2 - The Rumors That Damage Your Exterior

Hey there, neighbors! We’re back with part two of our deep dive into those pesky home repair rumors that sound like great advice but actually end up costing you a fortune.

If you caught Part 1, you know we’re on a mission to bust the myths that secretly wreck your home from the inside out. Today, we’re stepping outside. Your home’s exterior is its first line of defense against our wild Utah weather, from the scorching summer sun in the Salt Lake Valley to the heavy snow in Bountiful. When the exterior starts to fail, everything else is at risk.

Let’s look at three big rumors people swear by that actually do more harm than good to your siding, concrete, and foundation.

Visual: A simply drawn design with the title 'Home Repair Rumors That Secretly Cause Damage' and the subtitle 'Part 2: The Rumors That Damage Your Exterior'.

1. The Myth: "Power Washing at Full Blast is the Best Way to Clean Everything"

We get it. There is something incredibly satisfying about watching a high-pressure stream of water turn a dingy gray fence back into bright wood. But here’s the reality: more pressure isn't always better. In fact, if you aren't careful, you can do permanent damage to your home’s "skin."

When people use a high-powered pressure washer on their siding or trim, they often:

• Strip the Paint: High pressure can literally peel paint right off, leaving the underlying wood or material exposed to rot.

• Force Water Behind Siding: This is the big one. If you angle that wand wrong, you may force water behind your siding, where it can become trapped and lead to mold, mildew, or wood rot over time that you won’t see until it’s a massive problem.

• Damage Mortar and Wood: On brick homes, high pressure can blast away the mortar between the bricks. On wood trim, it can "fuzz" the fibers, making the wood soft and prone to absorbing even more moisture.

If you’re looking for a handyman in Bountiful, Utah, or anywhere in the valley to help with exterior cleaning, we always recommend a "soft wash" approach. It uses the right soaps and lower pressure to get things clean without the destruction. You can read more about exterior damage prevention here.

2. The Myth: "Dumping Salt Everywhere Makes Winter Foundations Safer"

We’ve all seen it in Sandy or Herriman after a big snowstorm: sidewalks and driveways covered in so much salt it looks like a beach. The rumor is that more salt equals a safer home. While it does melt ice, it is an absolute nightmare for your concrete and your landscaping.

Here is why "salt-happy" homeowners run into trouble:

• Concrete Spalling: Salt is corrosive. It works its way into the pores of the concrete. When the ice melts and then refreezes inside those pores (the freeze-thaw cycle), it expands with incredible force, causing the top layer of your concrete to flake and pit. This is called spalling.

• Foundation Cracks: As that salty water runs off, it can seep down next to your foundation. Runoff collecting near the foundation can worsen freeze-thaw stress in surrounding concrete, walkways, and surface cracks, and poor drainage near the home may contribute to long-term foundation concerns.

• Landscaping Death: Salt runoff is toxic to most Utah plants and grass. If you’re trying to keep that curb appeal high in Riverton, be very careful where that salt ends up.

Instead of heavy salt, try sand for traction or magnesium chloride products that are labeled as "concrete safe" and "pet-friendly."

3. The Myth: "Just Seal Every Crack You See"

It’s a natural instinct: you see a crack in the stucco or the driveway, and you want to fill it up immediately. The rumor is that sealing any opening stops water. While that’s partially true, doing it without checking why the crack is there can lead to even bigger issues.

Not all cracks are created equal. Some are just "settling" cracks that happen over time, while others indicate active movement or drainage issues.

• Rigid vs. Flexible: If you use a rigid filler on a crack that is still moving, the filler will just crack again or, worse, cause the surrounding material to break.

• Sealing in Moisture: If you seal a crack in your siding or foundation before it has fully dried out, you are effectively trapping moisture inside. That trapped water has nowhere to go and can contribute to wood rot and conditions where mold may develop.

• Ignoring the Source: Often, a crack in the exterior is a symptom of a drainage problem (like a clogged gutter or a downspout dumping water right at the base of the house). Sealing the crack doesn't fix the water source.

Whether you are in West Valley City or Magna, it’s always worth having a professional look at recurring cracks. For more on protecting your home's exterior, check out our guide on small repairs that protect home value.

Your Local Experts in the Salt Lake Valley

Keeping your home's exterior in top shape doesn't have to be a guessing game. If you’ve realized that a "quick fix" might have actually caused a bigger headache, don't worry: we’ve seen it all and we’re here to help. Whether you need a handyman in Sandy, Utah, or help with a project in Herriman, Your Handyman Pros is ready to roll.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll tackle the "Internet Advice" that might be hurting your home!