Your siding helps define the curb appeal when it comes to your home’s exterior. Your home will seem well-kept and excellent-looking if you take proper care of your siding. You can sign up for professional siding maintenance. However, it also pays to get familiar with the typical issues that affect siding so you know what to keep an eye on as time goes by…
7 Common Siding Problems And How to Fix Them
Your siding is often exposed to active children, falling tree limbs, snow, rain and the sun. These elements can make your siding develop issues in the long run. Some of these siding issues are common and can be easily fixed.
Here are 7 common siding issues and how to fix them…
#1 Cracks And Damage
All siding materials are susceptible to cracks and damage regardless of the size of the crack. Sports balls, rocks, falling tree limbs, hail and other projectiles can affect the integrity of your home’s siding. Hail in particular can cause extensive damage to your home. It can affect your roof, gutters, windows and your siding.
Generally, sidings are durable. However, vinyl siding is more vulnerable to damage because it is not firmly backed against the side of the house and the material is quite thin. Fortunately, repairing and replacing vinyl siding is not difficult.
You may need to use a patch kit for small holes and cracks. Sealing the hole is easy when you follow the instructions on the kit. You will have to paint-match the patch to the siding’s color to create a seamless patch job.
#2 Color Fading And Peeling Paint
The appearance of your home will become lackluster when your siding begins to fade and the paint begins to peel. This will drastically reduce your home’s curb appeal as well as the pride you take in the appearance of your home. Invariably, these issues will affect the value of your house.
Painting the exterior of your home can help improve the value if you plan on selling. Also, if you have no plans of selling anytime soon, regular siding care, such as washing and painting your home’s exterior, should increase the lifespan of your siding and keep it looking good.
It’s time for a paint job if your siding paint has already started peeling off. A fresh coat of paint helps weatherproof your siding by eradicating all fading and peeling indicators as well as sealing them.
#3 Poor Energy Efficiency
Many siding issues, such as fading and physical deterioration, are quite evident. However, it is difficult to notice poor energy efficiency. The only way to notice this is to keep an eye out for any unusual price increases in the utility bills, especially during the winter, and monitor your electricity bill every month.
Poor energy efficiency can be fixed even if the signs are not quite obvious. The solution is found in both the siding and the insulation you have. Consult local professionals about the perfect insulated siding option that will help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
#4 Noisy Siding
Your siding is the problem if you keep hearing rattles, pops and creaks at night. This is often a result of an improper vinyl siding installation. The way the vinyl siding is attached to the house’s exterior allows for expansion and contraction. This is as the temperature changes from cold to hot during the day and throughout the seasons.
You will hear pops and cracks as your siding struggles to expand if your siding is firmly fastened to the home. When the wind blows hard against siding that has been hung loosely, rattles are sometimes heard. You can fix this problem with the help of a professional who specializes in installing siding.
#5 Buckling And Warping
Buckling and warping are other siding problems that are caused by improper siding installation. Do not forget that it is necessary to hang vinyl siding to provide it some space to expand and contract as a result of temperature variations.
Buckling and warping occur when the siding is fastened down too tightly and expands without a place to move. Hire seasoned, qualified siding specialists to hang your siding to avoid this from the start.
#6 Presence Of Pests
Many insects and critters find wood siding a source of food and make it their comfortable home. These pests may include beetles, carpenter bees, termites and carpenter ants. The damage as a result of pest activity is difficult to spot as many of the activities happen in the interior of the siding. Nevertheless, the activities of these pests attract attention in the form of woodpeckers. The integrity of your siding means nothing to woodpeckers. They can peck on pests like ants and larvae and actively damage your siding.
Using insecticides is the best way of preventing wood siding from a host of pests and bugs. The woodpeckers will disappear if the bugs are eliminated. It’s recommended to hire a professional siding inspector to assist you to identify and seal any entry spots if mice, chipmunks and other pests have penetrated your house.
#7 Damage From Moisture
Moisture damage to the exterior of your home is another sign you should look out for. If you see moisture-related damage, such as soft decaying boards on wood siding, it is advisable to act immediately.
If moisture compromises your siding, there is a good chance that it will extend into the frame and walls of your home. It may be too late for a quick repair if you have several leaks throughout your house caused by moisture damage to your siding.
By removing the rotting section and replacing it with a new board, moisture damage can be fixed. Regular siding upkeep, annual inspections and correct roof drainage systems all help to prevent the siding from moisture damage.
Summary:
Siding problems are common. Siding maintenance is an essential part of maintaining your home. Proper siding upkeep may be a major undertaking. However, you can hire a professional to help inspect, maintain and fix any issue with your siding. In Andover, MN, call Born Carpentry at 612-747-8003.