Is it Time to Replace Your Siding?

Cracked, peeling, or missing siding is more than just an eyesore — it can also put your home in danger of several kinds of damage. That’s because siding serves an important function in keeping your home safe. It provides a water barrier, preventing water damage and mold growth. Siding also acts as a barrier against opportunistic pests, such as rodents and insects.

If your home has cracked, broken, loose, or missing siding, it will need to be repaired. In some cases, the siding may need to be replaced across the entire home. Only a professional inspection can determine how extensive repairs will need to be. However, there are some common early warning signs you can be on the lookout for to catch problems early. Catching and repairing damage to your siding early can prevent the need for other expensive home repairs down the line.

Signs That Your Siding Needs Repaired or Replaced

Rotten or Warped Siding

Test for rotten siding using a screwdriver or a pry bar. Gently press your screwdriver into the joints of your siding. Make sure to test the joints around windows, gutters, and the chimney. If the underlying material is soft and easy to sink your screwdriver in, it could mean that there is significant damage or rot below the siding. Using the back end of the screwdriver, tap the outside of your siding. Check for splitting or crumbling — these could be a sign of dry rot.

Warped or rotten siding is no longer weather-proof. As a result, water may penetrate below the protective barrier that siding usually provides. Extensive water damage can happen if the issue is left unchecked for a long time. Restoration Partners offers comprehensive Water Damage Restoration services, both for the inside and outside of your home!

Siding Has Holes or Has Been Pulled Off

This is the most visually obvious sign that your siding needs replaced. Wind and storms are common culprits behind missing siding. Ideally, your siding should be securely attached to your home to prevent it from being pulled off by high winds. Other common causes of holes in your siding include overgrown tree branches knocking into the home and pests such as squirrels, mice, and even insects.

Despite the size of the holes in your siding, they can cause BIG problems. When your siding is significantly damaged or missing, your house stops being weatherproof. This in turn puts you at risk for water damage and mold. Storm Damage Restoration services can help get your home back in tip-top shape after heavy winds or hail.

Leaky Siding and Water Damaged Siding

Look at the inside of your home rather than the outside to look for signs of leaky siding. Keep an eye out for water staining that doesn’t have an explanation and swelling or bubbling wallpaper. Both of these can be symptoms of water leaking in from the exterior of your house.

Bubbles in your exterior paint can also be a sign that your siding is no longer weatherproof. This is particularly true for homes with wooden siding. Wood stretches and bulges as it becomes waterlogged. In turn, this can cause the paint on top of the siding to crack, bubble, and peel. Peeling paint can also be a result of long time exposure to the elements, but make sure there isn’t any rot or damage to the siding before you throw on a new coat of paint.