7 Signs You Need a Siding Intervention

At Noble Roofing, we fix more than just roofs. We are also involved with repairing and renovating other areas of the house, like siding, gutters, windows, and other exterior areas. Your siding is an important part of the home that you must keep in good condition. When left to the elements, it can wear down and cause significant damage to your home. Here are the 7 signs that you need to repair your siding.

#1: Dry Rot Underneath the siding

Though dry rot is easy to identify on wood, the wood underneath the siding can be rotting even though the siding is in good condition. In this case, you still need to remove the siding to fix the materials underneath. The layer underneath the siding is just as important because it supports the siding, so both parts need to be in good condition for a healthy house.

#2: Rotted Siding

Pieces of siding that have signs of decay should be replaced immediately. If you wait too long you’ll need a full replacement instead of a small repair. It is easy to spot a piece of siding that is starting to decay, especially if your home uses wood siding, which is prone to dry rot and mildew damage. An upgrade to CertainTeed or Mastic vinyl siding can reduce the chances of dealing with problems that are often connected to wooden shingles.

#3: Loose or Cracked Siding

Sometimes siding boards can become cracked or loose after a storm or an unusual event that causes direct impacts to it. It is important to secure these pieces so that no water or pests can enter your home. This also prevents dry rot from developing underneath. This is especially important if you see larger sections that are loose or cracking. This scale of repairs certainly demands the expertise of a professional contractor though.

#4: Small to large holes in Siding

It is easy to pass off a small hole as insignificant, but leaving this spot open to rain, pests, and other elements can cause a lot of long-term damage. Patch these up with tape temporarily and call your local pro to get a siding repair to keep your home in good shape.

#5: Signs of life

While in any other circumstance a bird’s nest or colony of baby mice would look cute, it doesn’t look so well inside your walls. If your siding has been breached to the point that wildlife is taking hold, you need the help of a siding pro and a pest control company. Other signs of life don’t pertain to mammals, but can be fungus, mildew, or mold. So if you see mushrooms and vegetation thriving off your siding, it’s time to get some help.

#6: Bubbling & Fading

These two obvious signs of damage can be identified by even the untrained eye. Siding that has faded beyond recognition means that it is not just old, but it can be letting in moisture because it can’t repel water as well as it used to. Bubbling usually indicates that there is moisture underneath under your siding. Since siding is supposed to keep your interior walls free of moisture, this is a strong sign that it’s not functioning as it should.

#7: Higher Utility Bills

If you notice higher utility bills that are not resolved by fixing your HVAC and windows, heat and cold air may be seeping into your home through your walls. Poor insulation combined with failing siding makes a home feel too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. This will make your HVAC work harder and use more energy, even after you just serviced it to make it as efficient as possible.

Contact Us to Learn More about Siding Installation or Replacement

Call us today at (703) 404-0505 to set up a consultation to discuss your siding in Centreville, Great Falls, McClean, Sterling or other nearby cities in Northern VA or Maryland. You can also submit a question or request a free siding estimate online.