Whether you have old rotted wood siding and your tired of painting or your have older vinyl siding that is warped and faded…. read on for 8 telltale signs that it’s time to replace your siding…
Not sure if NOW is the time to replace your siding??
It’s best to replace your siding before winter – ideally in the fall – especially if your home has wood siding. Why? Because when snow piles up in your yard and sits up against the wood shakes on your home, the collective moisture can cause rot, mold, and even termite infestations in the spring.
8 Warning Signs That Say Its Time to Replace Your Siding
- Bubbling or blistered siding: This happens when you have extreme amounts of heat or moisture. If your siding has bubbled or blistered, moisture may have trapped beneath it. Consequently, this compromises vinyl’s waterproofing, allowing moisture to enter your home and energy to escape, reducing efficiency. Hello long term home damage and high energy bills.
- Insect & wildlife damage: If woodpeckers, squirrels, and insects have had friendly encounters with your wood siding, you could face infestations or rising energy bills. If you have damaged wood siding on your home, it might be a good idea to replace it with a maintenance-free vinyl siding.
- Cracked siding: If your siding is cracked, this means something has penetrated your siding. This happens because there’s nothing behind your siding (except for a paper thin underlayment). If you don’t properly back and support your siding, it can wave, buckle, and crack. Again, compromised siding creates opportunities for moisture to enter your home and for energy to escape your home.
- Loose siding: Loose siding often occurs when installers don’t apply it properly, when the vinyl siding product is low quality, when wind damages it, or when the home settles. Loose siding indicates that weather can get into your home’s exterior.
- Your energy costs are out of control: If you have high energy bills, this could be a sign that your home might not have proper – or any kind of – foam insulation in its wall system. Your home should have a flat wall line with full-backed foam insulating your siding. Why? Moreover, a flat wall line stays flat as your house settles, while full-backed foam maintains your vinyl’s shape and integrity.
- Extremely faded siding: This happens due to UV Damage. Additionally, faded siding tends to become brittle, making it more vulnerable to wind damage and possibly blowing off your home. Not to mention – it’s an eye sore.
- Mold? Mold would be an indication that moisture has gotten in somewhere. Therefore, if mold appears on your siding, it indicates trapped moisture inside the wall is causing unwanted growth over time. If you see ANY mold – this is a huge concern and you should contact a roofing professional ASAP!
- Rot: If you see the exterior portions of your home rotted it can mean that moisture is unable to leave the wall line and is prematurely aging your siding.
If you’re unsure whether to choose 100% Virgin Grade Vinyl or Flame & Insect Resistant Hardie Board, consider these factors. Click here to learn the key differences of each!
