Minnesota and Wisconsin winters sure are hard! Subzero temperatures, slushy roads, and higher heating bills all make this a difficult season for many. However, have you ever thought about how your siding is weathering the intense winter weather? If not, maybe it’s time you start!
Your siding, along with your roof, serves as your home’s armor of sorts; it prevents water and other debris from coming into contact with your home’s vulnerable innards, which aren’t designed or equipped to protect what’s inside them: your family and valuables. Keeping your siding going strong is a great way to save yourself repair costs in the future, as well as maintain your home’s aesthetic, whatever that may be.
However, sometimes it isn’t always obvious when the winter weather has taken its toll on your siding. C&T Siding, a Southeast Wisconsin and Twin Cities Metro siding contractor, explains below how to know when you’ll need siding replacement come spring.
Assessing Your Siding Often Requires a Closer Look
Pull on your snow boots, snow pants, and hat! The best way to assess your siding’s condition is to go outside and take a look at it. Of course, we don’t recommend climbing on the roof to get at harder-to-reach areas; your siding-assessing adventure should remain strictly groundbound, for safety’s sake. Slippery surfaces and large heights don’t mix.
Once you’ve gotten out in the yard, begin a walkaround of your home. Stick close to your siding and run your gloves over it to get a better idea of how it’s holding up. You should look for:
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rotting Bards
Certain organic siding types, such as wood, are subject to rot if not properly maintained. Though chilly winter conditions can slow the rate of rot, it doesn’t always stop it completely.
To determine if your organic siding has a rot problem, poke gently underneath it with a sharp object. The wood should not give, snap, or splinter. If it does, even if your siding looks fine, chances are that you’ve got a rot problem, and your siding probably will need replacement very soon. However, replacing rotten boards often isn’t enough to permanently halt rot, as it often can resurface again, given proper environmental conditions. Fungi (the organisms that cause rot) are very opportunistic! If you’ve encountered periodic rot problems, we recommend completely replacing your siding with a less susceptible type, such as steel siding.
If you absolutely love the look of wood, LP SmartSide siding is a wonderful choice, as it is composed of engineered wood and is specially made to resist rot. Unsure of how to proceed? Talk to a metal siding company like C&T siding.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Siding With Cracks
While this isn’t necessarily a problem that requires a complete siding replacement, if your siding is severely cracked in multiple places or in great quantities, it requires replacement. However, a severe winter storm, for example, might only require that you replace one or two boards. The remedies for cracked siding, therefore, run the gamut from “simple replacement” to “re-siding the entire house.” Regardless of the extent of the problem, if any of your siding is cracked, you’ll need to do a thorough inspection underneath each individual damaged board to make sure that extensive damage has not already been wrought, and replace those boards immediately.
All siding will eventually become physically damaged. Because it operates as your home’s armor, there is no way around this. Cracked boards might just be the result of age, but it always pays to contact a reputable siding installation service to determine the root cause.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Faded Color.
Besides being a major cramp on your home’s style, if your siding is faded, that could indicate it is nearing the end of its viable life. As alluded to above, no siding lasts for eternity. If your siding is looking a bit lackluster in color, it’s probably extremely old, for one, and is probably hiding other problems! In certain circumstances, faded siding can also hint that the product’s waterproofing has worn off and that your home’s infrastructure could be exposed to the elements. However, just like cracking, faded siding can run the spectrum when it comes to severity.
If you’re unsure of how your home is holding up, it’s always worth your time to contact a siding installation company to conduct an expert assessment.
As you can see, there are countless ways to tell from a simple walkaround if your siding is struggling to stay strong this winter season. That being said, less-than-obvious signs can also indicate that your siding is failing! For example, higher heating bills than usual could be a sign of siding failure, as well as deteriorating wallpaper on your home’s insides (as this could indicate a moisture problem). However, it’s important to remember that if your home’s interior is not looking up-to-par, it isn’t always because your siding is struggling. That’s why we recommend always working with a siding installation company to determine the root cause.
Looking for the Best in Siding Installation? You’ve Found It: C&T Siding
With headquarters in both Robers, Wisconsin and Woodbury, Minnesota, our multi-talented company would be happy to investigate any ailments your home may have. Give our Wisconsin office a call now at 715-749-3162, or our Minnesota office at 715-749-3162.
