Signs You Need to Repair Your Vinyl Siding
If you use an annual home maintenance checklist, chances are it doesn’t include siding maintenance. Unfortunately, siding maintenance is too often overlooked by homeowners until it’s too late and there’s significant damage. No matter how high-performance your home’s siding was the day it was installed, time and weather will eventually cause all siding to deteriorate, even quality vinyl siding.
The key to extending the lifespan of your vinyl siding is staying on top of maintenance and conducting minor repairs as soon as they’re needed. To keep your siding in great shape, our team at Powers Premier Contracting recommends prioritizing regular siding inspections as part of your annual home maintenance schedule. Use this list as a guide and then call us to schedule your Minnesota vinyl siding maintenance.
1. Storm Damage
The most common type of vinyl siding damage is caused by flying debris during a storm. To maximize the performance of your siding, you should have any cracks in your siding addressed as soon as possible once they appear. Additionally, repairing damage immediately prevents moisture from seeping into the siding and damaging the materials underneath.
Most quality vinyl siding is rated to withstand strong winds and storms. However, straight-line winds can pack as much of a punch as a tornado, putting your siding to the ultimate test. If a board becomes cracked from high winds and debris, it can be removed and replaced.
If your siding shows signs of extensive cracks and damage, there is a good chance that moisture has gotten underneath the siding panels. If this occurs, it’s best to consider siding replacement to prevent future damage to your home’s interior structure.
2. Moisture Under the Siding
If your walls feel soft or mushy behind your siding, this means moisture has infiltrated the space. Although vinyl siding is meant to be watertight, if water seeps in around cracked or damaged areas, it can get behind your siding. This is an especially common problem when a home’s gutters are clogged.
When this occurs, your vinyl siding may still appear to be fine, but the materials underneath can begin to rot, causing your home’s structure to deteriorate. Even more concerning, this type of water infiltration can lead to mold growth inside your home.
3. Peeling Paint on Interior Walls
When the amount of moisture seeping into your home is significant, it can bleed through your interior walls, causing your paint or wallpaper to peel inside your home. If you can identify peeling paint on an exterior wall or the walls feel cool or moist, have your siding checked right away to reduce the risk of mold growth inside your home.
4. Out-of-Place Nails
Are the nails on your siding jutting out? Ideally, the nails in your siding will be nearly flush with the siding itself. When there is moisture underneath the siding, it can infiltrate the studs inside your walls. This can cause the nails to push out and visibly protrude.
5. Insect Infestation
Although vinyl siding provides a protective layer against the elements, insects can burrow into cracks and splits in the panels. Any signs of insects burrowing underneath your vinyl siding indicate that your siding needs to be removed and the structure underneath requires repairing. Talk to a siding contractor about your insect infestation concerns and consider investing in siding replacement if they are significant.
6. Drafts
Even during the coldest winter months, you should be able to walk through your home without experiencing icy drafts. A drafty home can cause you to have heating and cooling costs that are downright shocking during the summer and winter months. These drafts can indicate a trouble spot in your siding, often due to a quality issue with the original installation.
7. Warped Siding
Warped siding is a less common problem that can occur when there was a problem with the original siding installation. When installed correctly, vinyl siding is meant to expand and contract with the ambient temperature. This is why vinyl siding is installed with nailing slots to allow for this movement.
When vinyl siding is not installed correctly, it can’t move as it needs to, which can lead to warping or even buckling. These sections of siding will need to be replaced as soon as possible to prevent moisture from getting into your home.
8. House Settling
Although vinyl siding should be able to withstand some degree of settling, significant settling over the years can cause siding to shift. Even though the fault isn’t with the siding itself, if you’ve noticed your house has begun to settle, you should have your siding checked and make sure it’s performing as it’s meant to.
Contact a Minnesota Vinyl Siding Contractor
Does your vinyl siding show signs of damage? Repairing minor siding problems is key to protecting the structure and interior of your home. To schedule your vinyl siding inspection or learn about siding replacement options, contact our siding contractors at 612-710-7283 or connect with us online for your free estimate.