Siding keeps a roof over our heads — sometimes quite literally! Because it’s essential for keeping our homes safe, water-tight and undamaged by the sun, siding endures quite a bit of wear and tear every day.
Elements threaten our homes all the time. You might think you’re safe just because there isn’t any heavy wind activity or if the skies are clear. But, the truth is, many weather conditions affect siding, even sunshine. Therefore, we need to keep a close eye on it and maintain it regularly. If the sun, water, or wind damage is minimal, we can often repair it quickly and move on. But, how do you determine what warrants a slight repair, and what the sure signs that you need to invest in new siding are?
Bubble Trouble
If some moisture seeps under the siding, it will cause bubbling on its surface. The bad news is that you’ll need to replace the siding even if the bubbles are small. Bubbling is the sign of not only a compromised siding but also of significant water damage underneath. So you don’t want to wait until it gets worse.
The Hidden Water Damage
Not all moisture damage will result in bubbling. Sometimes, water damage isn’t apparent from the outside, but it will show on the interior walls of your house. If your walls are moist, your paint or wallpapers are starting to peel — inspect the siding.
Cracks and Buckles
Another consequence of water damage, cracks in the siding usually mean that there might be extensive water damage underneath the siding. Unlike the cracks, buckling is a sign of a construction problem. Sometimes the siding material can collapse or push outward. Inspect the boards underneath to see what’s causing it. In both cases, you might get off with changing just one panel instead of the entire siding — depending on the amount of damage.
Color and Texture
Naturally, the color of our siding fades over time, due to sun or water exposure. What’s more, the texture may also change. You may notice your siding becoming more chalky or merely starting to peel. Both issues indicate that the siding is compromised and should be repaired or replaced.
However, if your siding loses color or changes texture quite rapidly, then you probably have some other issues you need to look into.
Holes Lead To Trouble
If you notice holes in your siding, you probably have an infestation of some sort. Holes are quite dangerous, as they are the perfect entry point not only for water but also for small animals like rodents. If there’s a lot of holes, you might even notice that your heating or cooling bills are much higher than they used to be. Higher energy costs are a sure sign that your siding or the insulation under it has reached the end of its lifespan.
Infestations
Burrowing their way under your siding is one of the most common pastimes for many insects and rodents. All jokes aside, you might find a nest or two of various wildlife under your siding that can endanger not only the siding but also the integrity of the structure beneath it. After they chew or dig through the siding, insects and rodents can then make your home theirs! To avoid that, keep an eye on all holes and potential infestations, and maintain your siding.
Panels and Seams
It’s crucial that we protect the interface under the siding. Loose panels or pulled seams can expose it to elements and lead to further damage. If you don’t notice this in time, replacing the siding will be just one of many jobs. If the water and sun damaged the interface, you’ll have to replace all the layers.
Rot and Organic Growth
As mentioned, just because your siding doesn’t look any different from the outside, that doesn’t mean trouble isn’t brewing underneath. Rot can eat the interface under the siding without affecting it at all. That’s why early detection is vital.
Other issues, such as moss, mold, and fungi, are also sometimes hidden. They can make the interface their new home without you noticing anything. What’s more, if any organic growth appears both on the inside and the outside of the siding, then the water damage is probably massive.
Storm Damage
Inspect the siding after storms with heavy wind or hale. These can potentially compromise the siding, which can lead to further damage. If a small storm left significant consequences on your siding, you might want to consider replacing the entire thing with a more durable material.
In Conclusion
There you have it — nine most common signs you need a new siding. Damaged siding can lead to a whole lot of trouble, so make sure you have it inspected and, if required, replaced in time. M&M Home Remodeling Services offers siding materials of the highest quality, that will keep your home protected for years to come!
