6 Ways to Tell You Need New Siding

At the change of the season is a great time to take a fresh look at that to-do list of tasks around the house. When the weather is about to get hot or cold, you should consider updating the outside of your home. While you’re examining the building, pay close attention to the old siding. There are a few indicators to keep an eye out for that mean it’s time to repair or replace your siding altogether.

Siding replacement is a major project to put on that to-do list, but it’s one that needs to be taken seriously. Well-maintained siding provides your home with insulation, protects it from the elements, and keeps the outside appearance nice and inviting. Fortunately, All Seasons Windows and Siding can help guide you through every step of the process. For now, let’s take a look at some warning signs that might suggest that it’s time to get some new siding!

[bctt="Well-maintained siding provides your home with insulation, protects it from the elements, and keeps the outside appearance nice and inviting. Fortunately, All Seasons Windows and Siding can help guide you through every step of the process."]

1. Cracked Siding

The most obvious place to start looking for siding problems is the siding itself. Look closely for any cracks, gaps, or buckling. Any of these flaws will compromise the siding and your home. Cracked or warped siding often indicates moisture damage and decay, which will lead to bigger problems for the structure. Any cracks or warping means that your siding is no longer doing its job protecting the house. Call a professional immediately to check and see if it will need to be replaced.

2. Bubbles in the Siding

Siding, by design, keeps moisture away from the inside of your home. So if you notice any bubbles in your siding, large or small, it’s a sign that you have some moisture hanging around where it doesn’t belong. Bubbles indicate that there’s moisture trapped between your siding and the interior walls. You should call someone out to look at replacing your siding as soon as possible to avoid any larger problems developing within the structure of your home.

3. Loose Siding

There are several problems that can cause loose siding around your home, from wind damage to the building settling. Whatever the reason behind the issue, you need to get it looked at and fixed quickly, so that the siding can continue protecting the house. Loose siding, even in a single location, can result in more damage to the rest of the siding or other parts of your home later that end up costing you more money in the long run.

4. Increased Utility Bill

If you’ve looked over your siding and see no outward signs of disrepair, you can also check on some of the less obvious signs. Take a look at your utility bill to see if it’s a bit higher than usual. This could be a clue that there’s something wrong with your insulation, including the siding. If you can feel a draft near any windows, doors, or walls around switches and other electrical openings, it could be a sign of underperforming siding. In this case, not only would getting new siding eliminate those drafts flowing into your home, but it would also help you lower that utility bill.

5. Peeling Indoor Paint

You might not have considered looking at the inside walls for problems that exist on the outside, but bad siding can affect your indoor paint. If you look around and notice the paint or wallpaper peeling off the walls, it’s likely due to excess moisture or water damage on the backside of the wall. This moisture is often due to old, decaying, damaged, or improperly installed siding. If this is happening inside your home, you should get it checked out before more serious damage is done.

6. New Home Addition

If you’ve added a section onto your home, it’s nice to have the new siding match the rest of the home, so it could be time to update your existing siding for the entire house. This is a more cosmetic reason to get new siding, but it's just as important as those reasons mentioned above. You’ll want the addition to be as well protected and insulated as the rest of your home, and there should be no gaps between the old and new sections.

These are just a few of the reasons why you might need to get new siding for your home. No matter what the reason, it's always good to consider all of your options for getting the best siding for your building and its location. Check out the All Seasons Windows and Siding blog that goes over how to choose the right siding color for your home for some inspiration!