With our wet and rainy winters here on Vancouver Island, water from heavy rainfall and blocked gutters can sometimes leak behind the siding of your home. This can cause considerable damage to your home if left unaddressed, ruining walls, floors and ceilings. Repair bills for this damage can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars.
There are several different reasons why water might leak under your siding. Leaks can often be traced back to bad caulking around window and door frames, and can also be caused by installing new siding over original siding materials as this can allow damp to seep under outer edges. Faulty installation can also result in loose siding joints that expand too much during extreme weather, allowing water to leak through underneath the siding.
The average lifespan of most siding materials is about 20 to 30 years. Any siding older than this will be particularly vulnerable to water leakage during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt. If you’re unsure about the weatherproofing capabilities of your siding, we highly recommend bringing in a professional to take a look at it.
Thankfully there are a few ways that you can minimize any damage from water leaking behind your vinyl siding.
How to Fix Leaky Vinyl Siding
1. Start by rounding up a caulking gun and sealant. Make sure you have a sturdy, CSA-approved ladder that is suitable for the task.
2. Closely inspect the exterior of your home in the vicinity of where you’ve noticed signs of leakage.
3. Seal your siding from water by applying a plug of elastomeric caulk to small surface cracks.
4. Caulk any siding leaks around doors and windows. Make sure you are careful not to seal up any window weep holes.
5. If any leakage occurs along the J-channel trim of your siding, caulk under its edge at a 45 degree angle.
6. Fit loose siding back into place by running a vinyl siding removal tool along the edge.
Prevention is Key
Installing rain-screen is a great way to reduce the impact of leaks in your siding. Rain-screen is essentially a protective application of pressure-treated plywood strips that create an air gap between your siding and interior walls. These strips are placed vertically between your siding and a waterproof surface. This air gap increases air circulation, allowing walls to breathe and helps prevent the buildup of excess moisture.
Call the Experts
We highly recommend calling in a professional if you’re not sure on how to fix leaks in the siding of your home.
The experts at Phoenix Siding have the knowledge and experience to help you make the right decision for you and your family. We also provide the materials and manpower to get the job done once you’ve determined which type of siding you want for your home.
Let Phoenix Siding make the exterior of your home beautiful! We have been installing cedar, HardiePlank vinyl and more since 1990. With trusted experts in all aspects of siding installation from commercial to residential new builds or renovations we can help you choose the best type for any project big or small.
Call us at 250-758-3818 or email us blake@phoenixsiding.ca today to find out more about what we can do for you!
