Whatever type of siding protects your home, it will require regular maintenance and eventually need to be replaced. A house’s siding may break, crack, warp or buckle over time, and you’ll want to get it fixed before it spreads to other areas of your house. When you have leaks coming into your home through your siding the time to fix it without paying for costly fixes may have already passed. When your siding is no longer protecting your home from the elements, there can be significant rotting damage to the structure of your house.
It’s crucial that you replace damaged exterior before the damage spreads and leads to more expensive structural issues. As a trusted siding and window contractor, we emphasize that you should consider a thorough evaluation of your home’s exterior to get a better picture of the condition of your siding. Not sure when it’s time to replace it? Check out these eight signs that you should get new siding on your house.
1) Warped, Cracked, or Rotting Siding
This may be the most straightforward indication that your siding cannot be repaired. If you have wood siding on your house, look for crumbling or about to crumble panels as well as any dark spots. In this case, moisture has penetrated the wood fibers and the laminate around the wood siding is no longer doing its job. This results in the breakdown of the wood’s strength through rotting. The rot will continue to worsen if it is ignored. For vinyl siding, any cracks or warped sections of your siding might have rotted under the surface. These cracked or warped sections of siding allow water to infiltrate behind the siding and can lead to moisture build-up and rotting of your home’s structure. Once rotting happens, you should hire a siding contractor to replace your siding immediately, as well as any rotted wood to eliminate any further damage.
Pro Tip: You can test your wooden siding for dry rot by tapping on the outside with a screwdriver handle; if the material crumbles, splits, or sounds hollow, this could signal extreme deterioration. Dry rot is almost invisible because it grows beneath the surface, leaving only the top layer of your wooden siding intact. To test vinyl siding damage try to take off any pieces that seem loose or not in place. If you are easily able to move the material to expose a gap or any area of your home this needs to be secured to not allow any elements to get behind your siding.
2) Fungus, Mold, or Mildew on Your Siding
Take note of any growth that appears on your siding, such as fungus, mold, or moss. While some fungus and mildew are harmless, you should remove them anytime you see them. In the presence of moisture, these substances grow, so their presence can indicate that water is penetrating your siding, which is certainly worth checking out further.
3) Visible Blisters or Bubbles
If you see blisters or bubbles forming beneath the surface of your siding, that is a big red flag. Blisters and bubbles indicate that water has become trapped within the siding, which means moisture is causing the problem. Siding is supposed to prevent moisture from entering your home, so this suggests the siding may no longer be doing its job.
4) Severely Faded Siding
If siding loses its color and becomes severely faded, its weatherproofing has reached the end of its life. That means that now is an excellent time to upgrade your siding before more severe problems arise.
5) Your Exterior is Need of Frequent Painting
The average home needs to be repainted every eight to ten years. Peeling or chipped paint indicates it’s time to replace your siding, and you may want to consider material with long-lasting color and minimal maintenance. Fading can also indicate excessive heat being trapped behind your siding. This can occur if your siding was installed too tight or can commonly be seen if your home faces south which is the result of the extensive sunlight that your home’s exterior faces on a daily basis.
6) Higher Energy Bills Every Year
Did your energy bill increase in the past few months? At first glance, you might assume this is due to the rising cost of electricity or that the temperatures are simply changing. However, the real reason you’re spending so much money keeping your home comfortable may have more to do with your siding. Older siding does not insulate your home as well, so your air conditioner and heater must work harder in order to maintain the same temperature. It may be time to think about installing new siding if it’s been a while and you’re paying more in heating and cooling bills.
7) Unsightly Peeling Paint Inside Your Home
Bad siding outside your home can show up inside your home as well. Have you noticed loose wallpaper or peeling paint inside your home? Seeing this inside your home might indicate that your siding needs replacement. It may seem odd since there are many layers between your siding and your external walls, such as insulation and drywall. However, when it is worn out, water and heat from outside can permeate through your wall and insulation reaching the inside of your home.
Moisture that seeps through your siding and into your walls can seriously damage your house. If you cannot identify any internal reasons for your paint or wallpaper falling off the walls, it may be time to look outside the house.
8) You’re Ready to Move
In the real estate world, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. If you plan to sell your home soon, new siding will increase its value dramatically. Your home will be more attractive to buyers if you have fresh, attractive, modern siding. Nevertheless, you could discourage potential buyers if your siding is damaged or simply outdated.
Quality, style, and materials will determine how much your home will increase in value. A home installation expert like our team at Unified can help you choose the ideal siding for your unique budget and needs with payment and finance options that work for you.
Call Unified to Start the Process!
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to quickly take action to protect your home and its value. Take action now to prevent further damage. Unified Home Remodeling is ready to provide you with a cost-free consultation and comprehensive estimate. You may assume that you’ll get siding that looks similar to the one on your house now–perhaps in a different color, but essentially the same. Be sure to talk to us first about the right kind of siding for your home that fits your vision and budget.
At Unified, we offer high-quality vinyl siding from CertainTeed, Alside, James Hardie, and others. This year, do yourself (and your home!) a favor by installing new siding on your home. Contact us today and receive a Free Estimate at (888) 631-2131 or contact us online.