We all know that our home siding shields our house against most external factors and keeps expensive repairs at bay. But what if this siding itself needs an entire redo? Yes, your home siding takes a lot in every season, and will soon start deteriorating no matter how well you clean and maintain it. Below are a few instances when you may feel that replacing your home siding is crucial.

When Bills Start Skyrocketing

Increased heating and cooling bills all of a sudden may not always be a sign of failing HVAC system. Take a close look at your home. Firstly, check the seams to see if they could be letting hot or cool air out of your house. If not, then look for siding damages. Unseen gaps or holes in siding, drafts around electrical receptacles and weakened or old insulation, will show themselves in the form of high electric bills every month. Repair or replace your home siding to keep your heating and cooling bills controlled.

When Siding is Damaged

The biggest reason for replacing your home siding is when they are damaged. Siding damage can happen in countless ways, and they can sometimes go unnoticed. To prevent your home siding from causing any damage to your home’s interior, take a look at the siding. Take a walk around your property and inspect your exterior siding closely, from multiple angles. Here are some of the common damages that you may notice and their causes too.

1) Cracked and split siding: Your home siding is exposed to sunlight, rain, snow, and severe thaw cycles. All these factors, plus age, will cause the siding boards to crack and split.

2) Holes: If moisture has made its way through cracks, it has also opened ways for insects and critters to enter. Insects like termites may infect the siding boards and create holes.

3) Bubbling: Bubbles under your siding are a near guarantee that water is being trapped behind the siding, which is a huge red flag.

4) Fading and peeling: Quality siding will maintain its shape and colour for at the very least 8-10 years. Peeling, fading, or chipping too often and too soon is a sign that it might be time to replace.

5) Loose siding boards: When you see 1-2 loose siding boards, it may seem normal after good rainfall and snowfall. But you must replace these boards before they let moisture inside.

When you notice one or more of these issues, you must call your home siding installer and find out what will be the right solution depending on the magnitude of damage. If the damage is severe, the professionals will suggest a complete residing.

When Siding Experiences Water Damage

As home siding prevents any water damage from entering your home, it takes away all of those. But if your siding has begun to rot or crumble, then it cannot perform its vital role. Water from rain and melting snow can wreak havoc on your home siding and result in rotting and curling. Water and moisture can directly or indirectly contribute to the damages mentioned above. Insects will start breeding on the surface, especially in the crevices if there are any. Water damage will also result in undesired mould and fungal growth. Any growth on your home siding, particularly near the seams, might be a sign that water is passing through and being held in the wall. These growths on their own may not seem serious, but they will eventually cause a lot of damage to your home’s exterior as well as interiors.

Even if your siding looks great outside, if you see moisture damage or mould growth inside your walls, it could a sign of water damage. This issue can be like the tip of an iceberg, warning of hazards hidden out of view.

When Siding is Dry Rottede

You may not even realize that the siding is damaged, and when you do, it’s too late. It is possible that a siding that looks great and perfect on the outside may actually be damaged and hollow at the back. So tap your siding with the rubber handle of a tool every 3-4 months. You will either hear the sound of knocking something like a thin and hollow surface or may see bits of your home siding material falling down. The fungi that cause dry rot start below the siding’s surface, eventually eating away the body of your siding until only the top layer remains intact. In this case, you must call your home siding expert and find out how serious the damage is. You can either get rid of the damaged boards or replace the entire siding.

When You Can’t Maintain

If you are someone who doesn’t have time to take care of the home siding regularly, you must look for options. If you have wooden home siding, it will require regular maintenance like painting it every 2-3 years, cleaning it well, and waterproofing it often. If you can’t do all of these, your home siding will deteriorate, get damaged, and cause issues inside and outside your house. It is better to switch to a low-maintenance home siding option like vinyl siding so that they don’t get damaged if you don’t pay attention. Vinyl siding doesn’t need to be refinished every few years. Plus, you can clean it with a hose once in a while.

All siding must eventually be replaced. But if you see any major damages or wish to sell your house, consider replacing the siding at your earliest. Yes, a beautiful and healthy home siding increases the resale value of your home. Talk to your home siding expert to understand the pros and cons of various siding materials available.