Signs it is Time to Pay Attention to Your Siding

New siding makes the exterior of your home look more beautiful and adds to the curb appeal, but it’s more than just about the aesthetics.

 Your siding is the first barrier protecting your home’s interior from the elements – with boards, nails, caulk, and a painted finish working together to keep out the moisture. Wear, age, and deterioration of siding could cause a lot of problems for your home.

While it’s often difficult to tell how much deep damage there is until the siding is physically removed, there are some signs to watch out for that damage might be happening behind the façade.

Our expert home remodeling and siding contractors at Home One Services have gathered a list of things to pay attention to when it comes to the health of your home siding:

Aging

Depending on the type of siding material and how well it has been maintained, aging will look differently for different types of siding.

Vinyl is affected by solar weathering; wood tends to rot or warp; older Masonite-type composite siding can crack and let water in, etc. Overall, if there are warped, undulating, shifting, uneven spots or gaps in the siding – it needs to be replaced.

Seams, Caulk and Nails

All vertical seams and joints in the siding need to be caulked, and if done correctly, your siding should have an almost seamless look. In other words, there should be no visible vertical lines at the butt joints.

Still, the caulk can shrink, crack, or slowly wear away over time, and if seams have shifted and boards look uneven, it’s time to address it.

If the heads of the siding nails are exposed, your siding has most likely experienced some sort of movement, or has been expanding and contracting. Rusty nails can point to moisture damage and leave streaks down your siding, so ideally stainless steel nails should be used. And, if any nails are missing, your siding could fall off or be blown away during a strong windstorm.

Water Stains

Water stains can show up as discoloration or streaking on your siding. If you see water runoff that starts and stops suddenly, it means that water may be entering the siding and affecting the interior of the home.

 Rot or Mold

Your siding is supposed to prevent moisture from coming through, but if it happens, it’s time to take action. You may see mold on your interior drywall, or you may be able to smell that something is musty; and sometimes you won’t even know that rot or mold is happening.

Getting a professional to inspect you siding will provide answers, as to the cause as well as what the next step should be.

Paint

New or freshly painted siding doesn’t just look nice – upkeep of the siding’s paint could be key to its performance.

Depending on the quality of paint and number of coats, paint can last as little as two years (on wood siding), and much longer on some more weather-resistant materials. While vinyl siding does not require to be painted, it can be prone to fading, so if you decide to update the color special paint and care will be needed.

Insects and Pests

Termites cannot destroy vinyl siding, but they can certainly do so with wood siding. If rodents or other pests have been able to find their way into your siding and moved into the space between your interior walls and exterior siding, your siding may need to be replaced.

You can inspect and assess whether the exterior of your house just needs a little TLC or if it’s time to replace your worn-out or defective siding to protect your home.

If you need a helping and professional hand – trust experienced Lancaster home contractors for all of your home needs – contact Home One Services today.