If your roof has damage or shows signs of old age, you’re probably considering a roof replacement. Does your home need siding repair, too? While siding is durable and can protect your home for many years, it won’t last forever.
Because siding withstands the elements and protects your home so well, it can be challenging to know when it’s time to repair or replace it. When siding begins to fail, your home becomes vulnerable to problems that require expensive repairs.
Depending on the type of siding on your home, maintaining it’s effectiveness and appearance requires some work. If you notice these nine warning signs, it might be time for siding repair.
1. Loose Siding
Siding stays in place based on how your installer fits and fastens the pieces together. If you notice loose sections of sidings, don’t ignore it.
When siding pieces come apart, moisture and pests can in. Siding protects the interior of your home from these harmful things, so it’s critical to make sure there are no gaps between the pieces of this external layer of your house.
Don’t ignore loose pieces! One loose piece can lead to more pieces falling out of place. When you see a piece of siding that’s out of place, or you notice a gap, call a professional to replace the damaged parts right away.
2. Cracked or Warped Pieces
Most types of siding will withstand changes in temperatures, heat, rain, and wind for many years. However, even without extreme conditions or large fluctuations in temperature, siding can begin to form cracks or warp.
Cracked siding allows moisture and pests into your walls. Warped pieces no longer fit together as they should, leaving gaps that leave your home unprotected.
When you see cracks or warps in your siding, it’s time for a repair. Depending on the type and age of siding, a professional installer might be able to repair the affected section and match the new pieces to the rest of the wall. Fixing these issues right away keeps them from growing into larger cracks and requiring a more significant (and expensive) repair.
3. Mold or Mildew
Porous siding materials are easy targets for mold and mildew growth. When choosing wood siding, keep an eye out for green or black spots that spread across the wall.
Regularly cleaning your siding can help prevent the buildup of mold and mildew. However, if these things get out of control, they can ruin sections of your siding. As soon as you realize that mildew or mold has grown into pieces of your siding, call a professional to remove and replace that area.
4. Fading
Does the sun hit one side of your house more than the others? Direct sunlight or extreme temperatures can cause sections of siding to fade. When compared to shaded areas, you might notice discoloration within the same wall or when looking at one wall versus the others.
Fading can ruin the curb appeal of your home. It can also be a sign of weak areas of your siding. An exterior professional can revive a faded part of your home’s siding and improve the first impression of your house.
5. Holes
As much as we would love siding to be invincible, it can be vulnerable to holes. Whether pests create holes or nails become loose and leave holes behind, when you see a hole in your siding, it’s one of the critical signs you need siding repair. After a storm, wind and debris can also put holes in your siding.
When pests determine to make their way through your home’s exterior, they’ll find a way in. Pests can create holes in the siding near the roofline, making them hard to detect if you’re not sure what to look for.
Let a professional siding installer inspect your siding. They know how to identify dangerous holes that need repair to keep pests and moisture out of your home.
6. Interior Wall Damage
Is the paint or wallpaper peeling inside your home? These interior issues could be a sign that you have an exterior problem with your siding.
The cracks, gaps, or holes that allow moisture behind the siding can find it’s way into your walls and cause damp conditions with your walls. A new paint job will be a temporary fix to interior paint issues, but an exterior expert can examine your siding and let you know if it’s the real problem.
7. Dry Rot
It’s difficult to spot dry rot behind your siding, but it’s critical to check it from time to time. Lightly tap on your siding with a hammer and listen. If you hear crumbling or see small pieces of your wall or siding fall, you might have dry rot.
The exterior of your siding can look fine, but the rotting wood and insulation underneath mean you need to repair or replace the siding.
8. Higher Energy Bills
Is your heating and cooling system working harder lately? Does it feel warmer or colder indoors than usual? If you notice an increase in your energy bills, you could have a problem with your siding.
Siding assembly includes a layer of insulation behind the panels. This insulation helps keep you comfortable in your home. Over time, that insulation can wear away, causing your HVAC system to work harder to maintain the temperature indoors. Before you replace your HVAC system, let a siding expert take a look at the exterior of your home.
9. Renovation
When doing a home renovation, don’t skip the siding. You might not need to do a full replacement, but make sure your siding maintains the look and feel of any improvements you make to your house.
If your siding sustains damage doing your renovations, make sure a professional inspects and repairs the damaged sections.
Siding Repair Protects Your Home
Professional siding repair is the best way to make sure the exterior of your home protects the interior. From updating your curb appeal to keeping your home safe from moisture and pests, let our experts keep your siding in excellent condition!
Contact Freeman Exteriors in Lafayette for world-class services!
