If a big storm comes through your community, what sort of home inspection do you do? Or do you perform a home inspection at all? Inspecting your home after a storm can be an important part of home maintenance and can save money over the long-term. Strong winds or hail can cause damage to your roof, which is often all that homeowners inspect, but weather can also cause damage to siding.
People put siding on their home because it is low maintenance. Unlike wood homes, vinyl siding doesn’t have to be painted every few years. Vinyl siding is also quite durable with the ability take the beating of hot summer days and frigid winter days. However, like most things, vinyl siding is not indestructible. Debris can fly into your house and cause damage. Vinyl siding becomes more brittle as it ages and suffers through years of extreme weather. There are problems with siding, so the next time you’re looking at your roof after a storm, take a look at your siding too.
Damaged siding allows water to enter through a crack, a chip, or a hole. Not only is the siding harmed, but the wood under the siding is also at risk of being harmed by the penetration of water, which can get trapped between the siding and the wall—then it can be subjected to freezing and heating, causing more damage. Mold could also develop over time due to the humidity of that tight, wet space that water has entered into.
Holes in Siding
The most obvious damage to siding is when holes are beaten into the siding. This is usually near the bottom of the siding where an air gap exists. Any time water can come into contact with wood, you run the risk of rot and deterioration.
Chipping
A chip is when the siding has a half-circle at the bottom of the siding ridge. Siding does have flexibility, but not usually in this spot.
Cracking
These are splits that can be more difficult to spot but can grow larger and allow water in, under the siding, which can cause damage to your home.
When you find holes in your siding, find a contractor to suggest solutions to your home. A contractor you can trust can help fix your problem with your siding and help mitigate the damage and the expense of repairs.
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