Common Siding Problems You May Face – And What to Do About Them

Skywalker Windows and Siding

Your siding is one of your home’s exterior features that never takes a day off. It silently stands guard day and night, helping to ward off the threats of moisture, wind, and pests. But with constant exposure to the elements, your siding may eventually begin showing signs of some wear and tear.

 

If you’d like to learn more about some common issues that can emerge with your vinyl siding, wood siding, or other siding materials, then keep reading. We’ll also share some tips on the best way to take preventative action, as well as what to do if you’re experiencing any of these problems.

 

Common Problems and Issues with Exterior Siding

Whether you’re located in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, the Lake Norman area, Stokesdale, Roanoke, Danville, or anywhere in between in NC or VA, chances are good that you don’t give your siding much thought on a regular basis. As long as you don’t notice any missing siding or other glaring issues, you probably tend to assume that everything’s fine. But the fact of the matter is that everything may not be fine. Here are some siding issues and potential problems of which you should be mindful, presented by your friends at Skywalker Windows & Siding:

 

1. Moisture infiltration

Siding is designed to keep moisture out, but over time moisture can still find its way through. Sometimes the siding may basically look fine, but penetrating moisture can still wreak havoc on your home’s infrastructure underneath. If you happen to notice any warping or buckling in your siding, then that’s a pretty good indication that you may have a moisture infiltration issue.

 

2. Pest threats

Wood siding in particularly can be vulnerable to a range of pests, including termites, carpenter bees, powder post beetles, and woodpeckers. Even if your siding isn’t made with wood, pests can sometimes get through to do damage to the wooden sheathing and framing underneath. For this reason, one good preventative step you can take is to schedule regular pest treatment and prevention for your home and property.

 

3. Roof and gutter issues

You may think of your roof as a separate entity, but the quality of your roof system has a direct bearing on the longevity and performance of your siding system. If you aren’t intentional about maintaining your roof and gutters, you may find yourself needing to replace both your roof AND your siding – and that can be an expensive proposition!

 

4. Storm Impacts

One severe storm is all it takes to do some real damage to your siding. Both hail and flying debris from a windstorm can have a negative impact. It’s always a good idea to give your siding a visual inspection after any significant weather event. Holes, cracks, or other siding damage won’t go away or fix itself, and these issues will only get worse over time if neglected.

 

5. Repeated expansion & contraction cycles

When it comes to weather threats to siding, it’s not just about storm damage either. Temperature swings of heat and cold will make your siding expand and contract over time. This is normal and is to be expected, but some siding materials are better engineered for handling temperature fluctuations than others. And siding which isn’t properly installed to begin with is much more susceptible to developing problems from repeated cycles of expansion & contraction.

 

6. Color fading

Fading is just a cosmetic issue, right? Well, not always. Many manufacturers are now producing siding products that feature improved fade-resistance capabilities, but UV exposure can still have a negative impact over time. If your siding has become noticeably faded, that may mean that UV radiation has degraded the condition of your siding material itself. This can mean that your siding has lost some of its essential protective performance characteristics, as well.

 

7. No regular schedule of maintenance

Many modern siding products tout themselves as being low-maintenance or no-maintenance, but that doesn’t mean they never need any maintenance. It’s a good idea to clean and inspect your siding on a regular basis, to ensure that things like mold and mildew don’t have a chance to gain a foothold. It’s also wise to check for any exposed nails or fasteners, cracks in the sealant, or other problematic issues. And while self-inspection is worth doing on a regular basis, it’s still best to have a siding professional come out and take a look every so often as well.

 

8. Faulty installation

Some siding materials perform very well, and many come with some nice warranty backing from the manufacturer. But sometimes a problem can arise with your siding that has nothing to do with the quality of the siding material. The real issue could have to do with the quality of your original siding installation. Faulty installation is actually the #1 cause of siding problems! It’s important to note that not all siding contractors are created equal. Some folks who hang siding simply don’t have the right tools, experience, training, manufacturer backing, licensing, bonding, or insurance to consistently do the job right.

 

What’s the Best Way to Prevent Siding Problems?

With proper care and maintenance, your home’s siding should provide you with many years of reliable service. But no amount of maintenance is able to overcome a siding installation that was botched in the first place! Choosing the right siding materials and products matters, but it’s even more important is choose the right siding contractor to begin with. Ask around, and do your research. Who do your friends, family, and neighbors actually recommend in your area? Take time to check out the website of a siding provider you’re considering, too. Who are they? How long have they been in business? What are they about as a company? And of course, it’s also helpful to read what their actual customers have to say too. You can find reviews on Google, Facebook, BBB, and other home improvement review sites.

 

Don’t Take an Unnecessary Risk – Trust Skywalker Windows & Siding to Take Good Care of You in NC and VA!

If you’re located in North Carolina or Virginia, there’s not a siding contractor who does it better than Skywalker Windows & Siding! Whether you’re searching for siding contractors in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, the north Charlotte & Lake Norman extended area, Roanoke, Danville, or anywhere else in our NC and VA services areas, Skywalker has you covered! Our team is trained and equipped to work with all popular siding materials, and we provide quality siding replacement services for both residential and commercial applications. We take the time to do the job right for you the first time, and we provide the same quality of workmanship any time you may need us.

 

We’re happy to schedule a FREE initial inspection and personal consultation, just reach out today! You can connect with us online, or for faster service just give us a call at (336) 627-5596. Let us show you the Skywalker Windows & Siding difference!

Luke Wilson

Luke Wilson

Owner - Skywalker Windows and Siding

Luke Wilson started working on roofs with his dad when he was a teenager, and eventually launched Skywalker Roofing in 2003. Skywalker operates in 5 locations across NC & VA, and now includes windows, siding, and other exterior services. Luke also hosts the popular Roofing Mythbusters series on YouTube.

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