Siding FAQ: Learn The 5 Signs That Your Siding Needs To Be Replaced

As we head into the warmer months, you might be thinking about all the possibilities for beautiful home improvements to really make your house look and feel its best. 

One of the best and often underrated home improvements is new siding. Not only does new siding give your home a wonderful external “makeover”, it also makes your home incredibly energy-efficient.

Properly functioning siding is an integral part of any home – it works to protect the interior structure of your home from the elements, including: rain, humidity or persistent moisture, high and low temperatures and damaging insects.  That is why when your siding starts to fail, it needs to be replaced straight away. 

The reality is when siding problems go unchecked, it can create even bigger and more expensive problems, like damaged internal walls and issues within the structure of the home.  

Think your siding needs to be replaced? There are five very obvious signs to look out for, which we will reveal in this article. 

Fungus or Mold on Your Siding

The appearance of fungus or mold (or both) growing on your siding means you may have a moisture problem and need to replace your siding as soon as possible. It is likely you will find mold or fungus on the materials behind the siding as well when you replace it, and you will want that to get sorted quickly to avoid the mold/fungus spreading elsewhere in your home.

You Notice Your Siding is Cracked or Peeling

If you notice cracks, a chalky texture, chips or holes in your siding, it is time to get it replaced. Generally, these external problems can indicate that there is a greater problem behind the siding panels such as repeated moisture penetration, wood rot or mold.  The chalky substance also may mean that the materials used in the manufacturing of the product have broken down over time.  

Paint is a protective coating from moisture, so when that coating has been broken down it may mean moisture has seeped behind the siding doing damage that cannot be seen from the outside. For this reason, you should onboard a professional home improvement contractor to determine if the siding can be repaired in this instance, or if a total replacement is necessary. 

Peeling Paint/Wallpaper

Speaking of paint, if the paint or wallpaper inside your home starts to peel or sag, this is likely to be from water damage coming in from the back side of the wall closest to the siding.  Moisture can come through via old, decayed or poorly installed siding and needs to be replaced before further damage (like damage to the structure of your home) occurs. 

Your Siding is Warped or Buckling

Is your siding building, warping or buckling? This could be a pretty clear sign your siding is in need of replacing. Warping and buckling is typically caused by moisture getting under the siding panels and causing the board underneath to rot and push the siding outward.  So, generally when you see your siding is protruding out, it means it is no longer providing a protective barrier for your home.

Siding Boards Are Separating at the Seam

If you can see the seams in between the siding boards pulling apart, then the siding may need to be replaced.  Seam separation typically happens with improperly installed siding, or siding that has aged over time.  Whatever the cause, when siding boards separate at the seams it means rain and moisture can seep behind the siding panels and cause damage to materials on the inside of the wall.

Have you spotted any of these problems with your siding? This unfortunately means your siding is no longer serving its purpose and needs to be repaired or often replaced to minimize any further damage to your home. Get in touch with the experts at  Windows on Washington today and we will be happy to come and inspect your issues and determine if these problems are cosmetic and require repair or are more serious and require siding replacement.