Know When You Need Siding Repair
How often do you think about your home’s siding or perform siding repair? For most homeowners, it’s probably not very often.
Do you inspect it for wear and tear often enough?
Your siding protects your home from the elements, just like your roof. It also makes the first impression on your guests and passers-by and gives your home part of its personality.
Your siding needs to perform well. Otherwise, you could end up with hidden interior damage to your home. If your siding is damaged or worn, address it right away. You may be able to just repair it if it’s a minor issue. If the trouble is serious, you may need to replace the siding before things get worse.
Here are some signs that it is time for new siding.
Peeling Siding
If your siding is peeling, cracking, or loose, it is time to be concerned. If only a few sections are showing these signs, you may be able to just do some repairs or only have to replace the affected siding. However, if large sections are damaged, water and air are likely leaking into your home. There also may be more damage underneath the siding. You should get a professional to help assess this if there are large sections of damage.
Siding Is Rotting Or Warping
Siding protects your home from the elements, keeping your family comfortable and safe. Rotting and warping are obvious signs that moisture is getting through your siding and possibly into your home. If you don’t deal with this right away, you may see mold or mildew soon.
Dry rot is another type of rot to look out for. It hides under the surface of your siding, destroying the bulk of the material underneath but leaving the outside intact. Your siding might look perfectly normal, but you could have major dry rot going on out of eyesight.
Tapping on your home’s siding with a hard tool, like your screwdriver handle, will expose weak spots from dry rot. If you find softness on your siding, you need to act quickly to get it replaced.
Cracks And Holes In Your Siding
Holes and cracks in your siding don’t look good, of course, but these imperfections aren’t just jeopardizing the appearance of your home. They are compromising its entire structural integrity. Wherever water can gain entry to a home, so too can critters and insects. Some pests can devastate, like termites, and can cause trouble to the siding on their own. If there are any cracks or holes, it’s essential to get all siding repair done right away.
Siding Requires Frequent Repainting Or Other Maintenance
If you find you need to repaint your home every few years, something is wrong. This can be a warning sign that there is a deeper problem at work. If you keep having to do siding repair, you should probably get a professional to look at it for you. If you don’t have the time or energy to maintain your siding anymore, upgrade to a low-maintenance vinyl siding. This type doesn’t need to be repainted often and you can easily wash it off with a hose.
Siding Has Bubbles Under The Surface
Bubbles can happen when the siding is exposed to a lot of heat or moisture. If you see any bubbles under the surface of your siding, this is a sure-fire sign that your house needs a siding replacement. If the bubbles weren’t there when the siding was installed, they shouldn’t be there now. It is your siding’s job to keep moisture out. Bubbles mean water is trapped under the siding and the siding isn’t doing its job. This means it’s time to get a siding repair done soon.
Water Stains
Water stains are a cause for concern. A water stain looks like a streak of discoloration on your siding. It could mean water has found its way through your siding, which is very dangerous to the structure and integrity of your home.
Mold, Mildew, Or Fungus Is Growing On The Siding
Do you see mold, mildew, or fungus on your siding? Is it on the surface or has it worked its way in? If you see this, you need to investigate this further and ensure it is dealt with. It might be an external issue only, or it might require a siding repair and damage control in the walls.
Paint Or Wallpaper Inside Your Home Is Peeling Or Loose
If you’re experiencing problems inside your home, it can mean moisture has filtered far inside your siding and wallboards. Your interior walls can be seriously damaged if you leave this for too long. Alternatively, interior moisture could result from a problem with your roof, plumbing, or HVAC, so be sure to assess all potential culprits.
High Energy Bills
If you see high heating and cooling costs, your siding could be to blame. Get an inspection to find out whether it’s your roof, your siding, your insulation, or another issue.
Regularly inspecting and maintaining your siding is just a good idea. Keep your home’s exterior in good shape and you’ll protect the interior too. Be sure to fix any damage as soon as you notice it. Don’t leave it to fester and turn into a more complicated and costly problem.
You Plan On Selling Soon
Siding replacement is a great way to boost the resale value of your home. Vinyl siding installation typically offers one of the best returns on investment. Though the work may be expensive at first, owners typically recoup more than half the project cost at home resale.
Final Thoughts
Siding is very important to the integrity of your home, and it requires some minimal maintenance and checkups so it can perform at its best. If your siding does not provide this, it could lead to expensive and extensive problems with your home.
Siding can also change the look and feel of a home instantly. Siding comes in a variety of colors and styles, so you can choose what you want to match the look you want for your home. Give us a call today at 636-699-0449 to get started on the home transformation of your dreams.