Your siding is one of the most important pieces of your home’s exterior. It offers a number of benefits for your home including boosting your home’s curb appeal and resale value, as well as providing protection against the elements and pests, and providing your home with insulation. With so much to gain from having properly installed siding, it is important to ensure that your siding is kept in good repair. If you’ve been wondering how to tell whether your home needs a siding replacement, keep reading to learn about the signs that your siding needs to be replaced!
Warping, Cracking, or Loose Siding
If your siding is damaged in any way, it is important to replace it. This damage can take a variety of forms depending on the material and kind of damage. Some of the most commonly seen damage is warping or cracking, which can occur in nearly any kind of siding. A falling branch could cause cracks in your siding, as could the kids hitting a soccer ball or frisbee into the siding. This is generally easy to repair and not a big cause for concern. However, warping means that your siding is being exposed to water damage, which can quickly cause expensive repairs both in your siding, as well as in the frame of your home. If you notice that your home’s vinyl siding is warped, be sure to have it examined and replaced as soon as possible to avoid more expensive repairs down the line.
Dry or Wet Rot
When homeowners think of rot, the first thing that comes to mind is excessive moisture and water-soaked wood, which is what wet rot is. Wet rot occurs when water manages to find it’s way under your siding and into the frame of your home that your siding is designed to protect. You can discover if your frame is rotting under your siding by poking under your siding with a screwdriver or similar object.
However, sometimes after your siding has allowed in moisture and wet rot has occurred, dry rot will begin. Dry rot has a misleading name, as it does require a minimum amount of moisture to begin in the first place, but it occurs as fungus begins to spread through the wood and eat away at it. Eventually, pests may make their home inside this dry rot as well. It can make it’s way through your entire home relatively quickly, which means that it is exceedingly important that dry rot is dealt with as soon as possible.
Frequent Painting/Discoloration
Another sign that your siding may need to be replaced is when you see that your paint is fading or chipping frequently. Fading siding or chipping paint is usually a sign that your siding is losing its luster and needs to be replaced.
Mold or Mildew
Finally, if you find that your siding is growing mold, that is a clear sign that your siding is in need of replacement. Mold is an indication that there is water somewhere in your siding system. While mold will sometimes grow on the boards of your siding, sometimes it is far more subtle. When examining your siding for mold, be sure to check around the seams and corners of your siding. If you find that your siding is growing mold, it is extremely likely that water has penetrated your siding system as well, as mold cannot grow without moisture. One of the most dangerous parts about mold is that it can make its way into the frame of your home, and then eventually your home itself where it can make you and your family ill. If you see that your siding has mold growing on it, consider replacing it as soon as possible.
Contact Us Today
If you need to replace your home’s siding this spring, our team at DLM Remodeling is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today at (781) 789-8827 or by filling out our online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your exterior remodeling needs!
