Avoid Three Common Siding Issues With Simple Steps
Make sure you have chosen wisely when it comes to your home siding, say WA experts in home renovation.
3 Siding Problems to Avoid
Siding is one of the most popular ways to provide both beauty and protection to the exterior of a home. It comes in a variety of looks and is one of the most versatile home coverings on the market. Siding can come in many different types of materials including metal, vinyl, wood, stone, and brick.
Each type of siding can develop its own set of problems, depending on a variety of factors. While no one can keep siding on a home indefinitely, there are ways to prolong the life of whatever siding you choose with careful observation and maintenance.
Environmental Strains: Sun, Wind, and Weather
Now, this article is not saying that the way to avoid problems with siding is to change the weather around your home. They have yet to invent a technology that creates a weather bubble; however, you must consider the area you are in when choosing the proper siding for a home. Professionals will be able to give you the pros and cons of each type of siding, but here is a brief breakdown of the types of siding that are most affected by particular weather phenomena.
- Sun: Sun exposure can be particularly damaging to metal siding and painted wood siding. It can cause fading and buckling
- Heat: Extreme temperatures, even those from a fire or cooking area, can be enough to cause buckling in vinyl siding, though wood and metal can also be affected by extreme heat.
- Wind: Vinyl siding has been developed to be slightly less affected by the bleaching harshness of the sun’s rays, but extreme wind can be problematic for vinyl siding.
- Water: While water damage can be a problem for any kind of siding because most sidings have nooks and crannies where mold and mildew can develop. Wooden siding and vinyl siding are the most susceptible to this.
- Ice: Ice can even affect brick and stone siding if there is a crack or weakness that expanding water can break open. Cold temperatures are a bad time to install as so many types of siding are more likely to crack in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The best way to keep a home’s siding from being damaged by these weather extremes is to have proper installation and to keep the siding clear of debris to allow for easy inspection. Keeping a weather eye on your siding is one of the best ways to catch an issue before it becomes a problem.
Pests and Plants
While we all know about the pesky bugs and weeds that tend to invade the garden and the kitchen, we may not think about the damage that can be done to the exterior of the home. As surely as termites can attack the wooden structure of your home, they can attack the cedar siding, and while ivy and creeping plants have a certain amount of curb appeal, they can get into the cracks in the siding and tear pieces loose.
These problems can be avoided by pulling out weeds and vines as soon as they are discovered and calling a pest control expert if a homeowner sees any signs of termites, ants, or other pests. Installing stone siding which is inherently stronger and is not considered food is another alternative.
Poor Siding Installation
While some of the problems that have been discussed merely happen with the age of the siding, some problems can result or be exacerbated by poor installation. When considering a home renovation, be sure to search for a reputable siding company to do the work.
Here are a few things to look for when trying to find a good siding contractor:
- Good Reviews
- Licensed and Insured
- Highly Trained and Experienced Technicians
About Cobalt Exteriors, Inc.
As a BBB accredited business and a member of the Master Builders Association, Cobalt Exteriors, Inc. promises personalized attention and high-quality work. They have been serving the Woodinville, WA area for more than thirty years and boast highly reliable staff and experience with hundreds of homes.
