Take Advantage of the Start of the Siding Repair Season in Raleigh, NC
Your home's siding doesn’t last forever. It can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years; after this, you’ll have to repair or replace it.
Read on for some helpful information on siding repair. We'll discuss everything from when to do it and how to do it to whether it is better to repair or replace your home's siding.
How Do You Know When It's Time to Repair Siding?
Your home's siding is constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions and physical damage from impacts with objects hitting your house. Over time, it starts getting damaged. If not repaired, the siding might become less efficient, leading to energy loss and affecting your house's interior walls.
So how do you know when it’s time to replace siding? Here are some of the most notable signs that you need to repair this part of your home:
Blisters and Bubbles
Blisters and bubbles are some of the biggest red flags, especially when it comes to wooden siding. They're mostly an indication of water damage. When your siding gets damaged, water may seep into it, causing it to form bubbles or blisters. At this point, your siding is no longer doing its job and might leave your home susceptible to moisture damage issues like mold.
Cracks, Warps, and Rot
Cracks, warps, and rot are some of the most obvious signs that your home is due for a siding repair. You may also have to replace it if the damage is too substantial or spread over a large area.
If you notice any cracks and warps on your home's siding, no matter how small, you should inspect the area for further signs of damage. You can do this by applying firm pressure on the area. If the siding gives way, you may also have rotting siding. And since rot spreads quickly, it is advisable to do a walk-around of your home to check the extent of the damage.
Paint Peeling on Interior Walls
Siding damage isn't always obvious at first glance. Your home's siding may be damaged, and you wouldn't be able to tell even when walking past it. This damage worsens with time, and moisture starts seeping into your interior walls. Moisture damage from water seeping into your home is mainly characterized by peeling paint or wallpaper.
Fungus, Mold, or Mildew
Fungus, mold, and mildew grow in moist environments. Unfortunately, their common occurrence makes them easy to overlook, especially when they grow under siding. These kinds of growth typically indicate that water is seeping into your siding. That said, not all fungus growth is connected to siding damage, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate.
Fading and Peeling
Your home's wooden siding should retain its paint and structural integrity for about 8 to 10 years, even with minimal maintenance. So, if you find yourself having to repaint your siding frequently, it might be a sign that it is losing its weatherproofing capabilities.
Higher Energy Bills
Various factors could contribute to your energy bills going through the roof. But if you take a careful assessment and rule out basic causes like inefficient electric appliances, drafty windows, and leaks in your attic, your home's siding may be the culprit.
As siding ages, it slowly loses its insulation capabilities. When this happens, your air conditioning or heating system starts to overwork, thus increasing your energy consumption. Loss of insulation capabilities typically signifies widespread damage and warrants siding replacement.
How to Repair Your Home's Siding
How you repair your home's siding comes down to several factors, including the construction material and the nature of the damage. You also need to consider other factors, like the season.
For instance, if you're doing siding repair, Raleigh weather conditions are best from April to October. You can also do it in March and November. Essentially, you should never repair siding at the height of summer or winter since the conditions aren't favorable. It's best to do it during the spring and fall months.
You can do some minor repairs yourself, but if you have significant damage or lack proper DIY skills, it's better to consult experts like Anderson Painting. While you're at it, you should schedule their services as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your home.
Here's how to go about it if you choose the DIY way:
Materials needed:
Replacement siding (depends on the type of siding you have)
Screws, nails, or clips
Caulking
Paint or stain
Tools:
Hammer
Pry bar
Saw
Drill
Level
Chalk line
Ladder
Utility belt
Safety glasses
Steps:
Identify the damaged area
Remove the damaged siding
Cut and prepare the replacement siding
Install the new siding
Seal and caulk the area
Paint or stain the new siding (if necessary)
Factors to Consider When Repairing Siding
Type of Siding
Everything from the materials you use to the cost of repair and the repair methods you apply comes down to the type of siding you have. For instance, vinyl siding may require different repairs than wood or aluminum siding.
Extent of Damages
Siding damage can be minor and limited to a specific area. But sometimes, the damage is widespread and may require you to replace an entire section. Therefore, you need to consider the cost and effectiveness of siding repair in a localized area and the cost of replacing the entire section.
Age of the Siding
As siding ages, it becomes weaker and worn out, making it more prone to damage. At this point, repairing it would be counterproductive since the problems will persist, just in a different section.
To Repair or Replace Siding?
Is it better to repair or replace siding? This is one of the most common dilemmas facing homeowners with damaged siding. On the one hand, repairing siding is much cheaper than replacing it. But on the other hand, repairing damaged siding takes away its beauty, and in some cases, it only helps to hide the damage. Therefore, unless your siding is damaged in a very small area, it's always better to replace it entirely.
Here are a few other reasons why replacing your home's siding is better than repairing it:
The Repair Never Matches the Original
The first thing people do when repairing siding is look for siding that looks the same as the original. Unfortunately, even if you do manage to get siding that matches the color of your home, it will still be noticeably brighter than the rest of the siding.
This is due to the fact that siding fades uniformly, so when you add new siding, it will be obviously noticeable. You could try to hide the repair by repainting your entire house, but that's costly and won't provide the same benefits as replacing the siding.
Replacing Siding Increases Your Home's Value
Nobody wants to buy a home full of patches on the siding. Furthermore, replacing siding makes your house look new and beautifies your exterior. The result is a higher market value that could help recover the cost of replacement.
Sometimes, Your Siding Is Too Far Gone
Even the most thorough and rigorous repairs can't save your siding if the damage is too extensive. This is especially notable when multiple sections of the siding are severely damaged. In this case, it's better to make an investment in new materials.
Nearby Siding Repair Services
You might wonder, “Can I get siding repair near me?” Siding damage is a pretty common occurrence that often warrants a repair or an all-out replacement. If you’re looking for siding repair in Raleigh, NC, then you're in luck. Contact Anderson Painting today for all your siding repair needs, including replacements and repainting. We can do it all for you.
