Chicagoland homes see some of the most beautiful weather, but that beauty can be brutal on area homes and can leave homeowners shopping for a siding replacement after only a few years. Your home is one of the biggest purchases in your life, but it’s also one of the most significant investments. To protect that investment you want to make sure you have appropriate protective measures in place, such as insurance, and keeping the roof and siding in good repair.
Your siding is one of the few components of your home that works constantly to keep the outside out. It prevents the harsh elements of the Chicago seasons from infiltrating your home and living area, keeping your home from losing value and even becoming unsafe. Homeowners often wonder how they can tell if they need new siding, and what the signs are that their siding is beginning to fail. We’re going to take a close look at some of the signs that your home is in need of siding replacement.
Common Signs Your Home Needs Siding Replacement
Cracked & Warped Siding
Some of the most obvious and common signs of siding needing to be replaced are that the siding becomes extensively damaged. This damage will be evident on a walk-around of your home’s exterior when performing a brief visual inspection. Your siding needs to be completely structurally sound and there should be no cracks at all in the material. Touch the siding, and push gently on it, if it cracks, or if the cracks spread, that siding is definitely at its end. If it gives way easily, there may even be other damage beneath it that needs to be addressed.
Bubbling & Blistering
Siding that begins to bubble or blister its finish is a sign that there is water behind the siding that has gotten trapped there. This may be due to a variety of reasons, but it is an urgent sign. There could be extensive rot or water damage that you can’t see, and it is time to call a local siding contractor.
Your Home Needs Siding Replacement: Growth Of Any Kind On Your Siding
This one goes without saying. If you see mold, mildew, moss, or anything else growing on your siding, that siding is done. The protective coating of the material is gone and it is doing more harm than good by holding moisture against your home.
Extensive Fading
Once your siding begins to lose its color and fading becomes more severe, it is an indication that the weatherproofing technology in your current siding is fading and that the siding is nearing the end of its useful life. This doesn’t mean that you need an emergency replacement, but it should be a sign that you should start shopping around and figuring out your siding options. It’s likely that once you notice intense fading, the siding material is becoming unstable and may eventually breach and allow water to penetrate.
Needing To Repaint Frequently
It’s no secret that Chicagoland homes need a fresh coat of paint every so often, but if you find that your siding is sloughing off the paint more often than about every 5 years it’s a solid sign that it needs to be replaced. Peeling and chipping pain is a sign that the siding is no longer providing good adhesion, which means the surface is beginning to degrade. In this case, you may want to consider a siding replacement that has lower maintenance requirements such as vinyl or fiber cement.
For More Information About Siding Replacement
If you feel that you’re ready to speak to someone about siding, or if you simply need to ask more questions before making any decisions, you should speak with a professional. Reach out today to talk with trusted local experts about your siding replacement needs.
