If you’re like most homeowners, replacing the siding of your home definitely isn’t at the top of your to-do list. In fact, most homeowners have an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality simply because certain home repairs can get extremely expensive. So something like siding replacement doesn’t even show up on their radar unless it’s an urgent, pressing matter.
But as you know, if you don’t take care of an issue while it’s in an early state, it will only get worse and become more expensive… especially with siding.
Siding isn’t invincible, so that means that over time, it does get old, wear out, crack, and break. And when that happens, it eventually will lead to leaks, which can cause things like water damage, mold, and other expensive repairs that could have been prevented if the siding issue was taken care of from the very beginning.
Luckily, with siding, there are signs that will let you know when the siding of your home needs to be replaced before considerable damage can be incurred.
Signs Your Home Needs New Siding
Pressure Washing Doesn’t Work Anymore
A lot of times, your home can look “dingy” or faded and that doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire siding of your home needs to be replaced. In most cases, giving your home a good pressure washing can make your home look brand new, eliminating that faded, dingy look.
But if you’ve lived in your home long enough, the siding can get old and lose its luster to where your house just doesn’t even look the same anymore. So how does the color of the siding deem it necessary to be replaced?
Well, the color of siding is reflective of its waterproofing as well. So if the color of your siding has faded, it doesn’t necessarily mean the siding isn’t sound but it poses the possibility and is definitely something to keep your eyes on.
You Have Expensive Heating and Cooling Bills Every Month
It’s pretty safe to say that if you start noticing your heating and cooling bills start to skyrocket, there’s a high chance that there’s some type of leak from the roof or poor insulation in the attic.
But you also can’t rule out that there’s a possibility that your siding needs to be replaced too. Siding is one of the top ways to insulate your home, and when there is damage to the siding, it gives way for hot or cool air to leak, which then causes your heating and cooling unit to work even harder to maintain a steady indoor temperature, costing you more money each month.
Paint or Wallpaper is Peeling Inside Your Home
Peeling wallpaper or paint inside your home may not be something that’s immediately noticeable unless it’s pretty severe, but when it does happen, it can be a direct indicator that your home has faulty siding.
Depending on if you live in an area with harsh climates, you may want to get your house wrapped before having new siding installed. House wrap is simply an additional barricade used as a moisture barrier behind the siding. With house wrap and new siding, you won’t have any moisture or sealing issues for decades.
There are Growths on the Siding
Whether you’re seeing mold, mildew, or fungus on the siding of your home, it’s not necessarily an indicator that your siding needs to be replaced, but it certainly is an indicator that water is penetrating the seams of your siding and holding it inside the walls of your home and releasing it back out.
Pay attention to where the growths are located on the siding of your home… If it’s indeed at or near the seams of it, then you definitely need to consult with a mold removal specialist and look into siding contractors.
If you notice any of these signs on your home’s siding, do yourself and your wallet a favor and replace the siding as soon as you possibly can to prevent any further damage to your home. But you can’t just hire any siding contractor out there… You want to be sure to hire a James Hardie siding specialist in Colorado so that you know quality work will be done on your home.
This will ensure your siding will last with years of protection and fits the aesthetic of your home, thus, increasing your home’s property value.
