Harsh weather conditions can damage the siding of your home. In cases of severe damage, you must repair or replace your siding right away.
What To Do When Your Home’s Siding Is Damaged
Your home’s siding can get damaged. However, there are some things you can do as soon as you notice the damage. The following steps will be helpful…
1. Get An Assessment
If it appears that your siding is damaged, the first thing to do is to get professional help. A professional should perform a thorough assessment. Moreover, this assessment will help you in getting your claim from your insurance company if it covers the damage.
Furthermore, in the case that both your siding and roof are damaged, it is recommended that you seek the help of a company that specializes in repairing both components.
If you cannot see the real damage with your naked eye, hire a contractor who can check around for the presence of damage of any kind. With their knowledge and training, they should be able to detect any damage to your siding.
2. Inspect And Record
Weather-related issues can damage your siding. Sometimes the damages are obvious, and sometimes they’re not. However, you should get an assessment from a professional. After the assessment, the professional can also help you fix your siding.
You should take photos and videos of the damage. Record all the necessary details as much as you can.
Having enough records of damage will help your insurance claim as you will be able to provide enough evidence that the siding of your home was indeed damaged by severe weather. However, your claim matters only if the insurance policy covers damage caused by severe weather.
3. Check With Your Insurance Company
Check to see if your insurance policy covers the damage. Contact your insurance company and present your case to them. Give them a detailed description of everything based on the notes and photos you took. You can also forward all photo and video evidence to them. This should help you with your claim.
4. Repair The Siding Damage
Fixing the siding damage is the final thing to be done. Whether it needs repairs or replacement, something needs to be done before problems become out-of-hand and, eventually, more costly. Follow the instructions of your insurance agent. If insurance won’t cover it, pay out of pocket. Know your options and get price quotes before hiring a professional to repair the damaged siding.
Understand that it is dangerous not to address the damage. Water can seep through cracks and holes, causing moisture to threaten the structural integrity of your house.
Additionally, avoid fixing the siding by yourself if you do not have the right tools or any experience. Fixing certain types of siding requires specialized tools and expertise. For instance, vinyl siding often requires that the whole panel is fixed. Removing and fixing the panel will be a problem for an untrained individual. Therefore, a siding professional should fix the damage.
Checking Damage
Different types of siding are prone to certain damages. What should you look for? With vinyl or stucco siding, look for cracks and holes. With aluminum siding, look for dents and any discoloration. And for metal or wood siding, look for warping, dents or divots.
Conclusion
Do not take any damage to your siding lightly. You must take action quickly as soon as you notice any damage. If you fail to take quick action, the damage may get worse, resulting in greater expense. In Andover, MN, you can call Born Carpentry at 612-747-8003 for a professional siding damage assessment (and for repairs, too).
