Why do homeowners choose to wrap their homes with vinyl siding? Is it because of vinyl siding’s resistant to damage and color fading, durable, and pleasing aesthetic appearance? Perhaps it is a combination of the four. Winter can be a damaging and problematic time for homes and their exteriors. If one has vinyl siding, it is important to stay aware of the types of problems that seasons bring with them and what actions a homeowner needs to take when and if they spot them.
Below are three problems one should keep an eye out for this winter.
- Cracks or Holes in Siding
Finding a crack or hole in one’s siding is a good news-bad news scenario in the sense that, unlike aluminum, vinyl siding will not dent when it is impacted. The bad news, t can be susceptible to cracking, particularly during the winter when lower temperatures cause it to become more brittle than it would normally be during the summer.
Some sources of the problem include:
- Debris caught in the wind and colliding with the side of the house.
- Misfired snowballs from young children.
- Snow thrown hard from a snowblower with hidden ice.
Found a crack or hole in the siding? The next step would be to repair it as soon as possible to prevent cold air from seeping into the home. Luckily, when someone buys a home, the previous owner or the kind contractor who installed the siding may have left some spares of siding; use them to replace the damaged one. It is November now so that one will want to try and complete this job before the dead of winter in December.
- Loose Vinyl Siding Panels
One should stroll around the exterior of their home and keep their eyes peeled for a sign that the siding is hanging unusually. Perhaps, it may be slanted or tilted upward or downward or even off-kilter to one side. Vinyl siding becoming dislodged in the winter time is not uncommon.
Look out for:
- Siding lips that are overhanging.
- Recent flapping noises that only happen during a harsh or abrupt wind.
Mos times, one can simply just secure the panel back into the original position.
- Water Buildup Underneath Siding
Ice buildups can lead to water penetrating and building up in the eavestroughs. The accumulation will cause melting snow and ice to find its way into one’s home. In turn, this will result in structural damage to the home.
Vinyl, or any siding for this matter, is a homes suit of armor and it is meant to protect a home from the harsh elements and weather outside.
Don’t wait for an early spring; deal with the problems one finds immediately. If one finds that the task is out of their hands, give Phoenix Siding and Exteriors a call, and they will replace the damaged pieces of siding for you.
