When you buy a home, of course, you want it to look good and function correctly. Your home’s siding serves aesthetic purposes, but it is also protective armor. It safeguards against severe weather and invasive pests.
While siding is long-lasting, it unfortunately does not last forever. But when do you know when it’s time to replace it? Are there signs to look out for? An expiration date?
While your siding serves more purposes than you might think, compromised siding can cause more problems than you might think. It’s essential to know when to be concerned and when to look into replacing it. Here are seven signs that it’s time to call residential siding contractors to replace your home’s siding.
1. It’s Damaged
Holes or cracks can occur in your home’s siding due to inclement weather, pesky bugs like termites, falling limbs, or stray items like baseballs. Even small holes and cracks allow enough moisture to cause significant issues such as mildew or mold. Yuck!
Holes also give pests easy access behind your siding, where they can build a life and cause significant damage to your interior walls.
2. You See Rotting, Warping, or Bulging
Warping, bulging, or rotting are surefire signs that your siding could use a massive makeover. If you’re unsure of rotting, you can test it by gently inserting a screwdriver under the siding boards along your chimney or gutters. If you feel a soft underlying area, you most likely have severe rotting, and unfortunately, there is no way to fix rotting.
Another way to check for rotting is to tap the handle of a screwdriver on the outside of your siding. A hollow sound, crumbles, or splits indicate dry rot, and it’s time to consider replacing your siding.
3. It Feels Spongy or Soft
Soft, spongy siding is not what you want to see. If your siding “gives” when you apply pressure to it, water has most likely seeped into your siding. Water may also penetrate through the siding to the wood beyond, leaving swelling or stains on the sheetrock inside your home.
We recommend regular inspections of your home’s interior and exterior, especially after a big storm.
4. The Paint is Peeling
Typically, your home’s wooden siding will maintain its shape and color for eight to ten years. However, if you notice the paint on your siding is peeling or fading before that time, you probably need to replace it earlier than anticipated.
Peeling paint absorbs moisture into your wooden siding, saturating the protective layer beneath. This is a gateway to damaging your exterior siding and the inside walls of your home due to water penetrating through.
5. Your Energy Bills Keep Increasing
Have you noticed skyrocketing heating or cooling bills that seem to keep creeping higher and higher? That could be a sign that your siding is not insulating properly and has outlived its functionality. You may want to replace it for the sake of your bank account. The cost to replace it now will be worth it for the sake of all your future energy bills.
Old siding may allow heat and air to seep out to the exterior of your home, and it’s not your job to cool or heat the great outdoors; that’s Mother Nature’s job.
6. There’s Mold or Mildew Growing
This one is pretty obvious, but if you see any mildew or mold growing outside your home, you should look into replacing your siding. Unwanted growth may grow in the form of:
- Mold
- Algae
- Mildew
- Fungus
Any of the above are signs of trapped moisture beneath your siding or penetrating through cracks. This is a problem that should get immediate attention. Mold can grow, and it is one of the biggest and most expensive pains to get rid of. It doesn’t just cause external damage. It can seep into the walls of your house, leading to potential health risks and costly repairs.
7. They Are Becoming Very High Maintenance
When the maintenance of your siding is getting out of hand and hard to keep up with, it’s time for a replacement. No more putting lipstick on a pig. You may be exhausted from all the maintenance, but don’t forget about it and neglect to take care of it. Take care of it and get it replaced before more damage occurs.
The Best Time to Replace Your Siding
This may be different for everyone. The best time for a siding replacement depends on many factors, mainly:
- Weather
- Climate
- Budget
Just remember to look out for signs of inefficient siding. If your electric bills keep increasing or you spot any of the above issues, seriously consider a replacement. As roof and siding contractors, we know what untouched problems can do to your home. Don’t ignore issues because they will just get worse and worse. Our best recommendation for getting ahead of siding and roof issues is to check on them every three months. And if you need some expert help, give us a call!