When you’ve got a water leak in your roof, it’s usually pretty obvious. Once that moisture seeps into your ceiling, it can quickly create discoloration and bulging or even cause the ceiling to fail. However, siding leaks are a little different.
They’re frequently not even noticed until the moisture has seeped into your home and has caused extensive damage to your walls, floors, insulation, and even the structural integrity of your home. Too often, moisture can get inside your walls where it slowly degrades the building materials and leads to mold growth while remaining undetectable from inside your home.
In this post from The Construction Group in Minnesota, we’re breaking down some signs you can watch out for to identify water-damaged siding and solutions to help.
Understanding Water-Damaged Siding
One of the most common misconceptions homeowners can make is that waterproof vinyl siding makes a home invulnerable to water damage. Although vinyl siding is incredibly durable, it can become damaged, leading to water getting trapped behind it and causing problems inside the walls.
These are some of the most common causes of water-damaged siding:
● Ice dams
● Poorly sealed windows and doors
● Clogged gutters
● Aging siding
● Loose siding joints due to poor installation practices
Once water gets under your siding, it can become trapped there. Inside your walls, mold can grow unchecked, often leading to serious health problems for anyone living in the home. This moisture can also cause the insulation to erode, damage the home’s interior walls, damage the foundation, or cause the wood inside your walls to rot.
Signs Your Siding Has Water Damage
If you’re still looking for signs of water damage on your siding, look at these common signs highlighted below by our experts:
1. Cracked Panels
During a severe storm, it’s common for a few of your siding boards to become loose or misplaced. If many parts of your siding boards are damaged, loose, or missing, this could indicate water damage. In addition, moisture deteriorates your siding boards, making them more vulnerable to damage.
2. Mold and Mildew
When you see mildew and mold on your siding panel, they clearly indicate that your siding has suffered water damage. For example, you may notice that some exterior parts of your home are shaded and damp.
3. Rotted Boards
Dry rot is sure evidence of water damage, and it’s a dangerous one at that. If dry rot is unchecked, it can eat away at your home’s foundation. Therefore, contact your contractor immediately to assess the condition if you ever find dark orange or rust-colored stains on your siding.
4. Sudden Spike in Energy Costs
Although you might not think of your siding when your energy bills go up, water-soaked boards could also be a cause. Contact a reputable contractor to determine the source of your high energy expenditures and devise a means to resolve the problem.
5. Bubbling and Warping
Warped or bulging siding indicates that water is finding a way to get underneath your paint. The more warped your boards are, the more susceptible they can be to water damage.
6. Fading
When the color and brilliance of the boards start to fade, your siding has probably reached the end of its lifespan. This is also a clue that your siding’s waterproofing properties are deteriorating as well.
Even if you don’t see any other indicators of moisture leakage, consider replacing your siding if it’s starting to disintegrate. This preventative measure can help you avoid costly water damage repairs in the future.
Prevent Future Siding Leaks
Once you’ve identified a siding leak, before you do anything else, you need to call in a professional exterior remodeling service to repair the leak and any damage to your home. Your contractor should also check for signs that your home requires mold remediation services, as mold spores can grow even after the repair is completed.
Next, you’ll need to take certain steps to prevent water damage from returning. Prioritize regular siding inspections and make sure your door and window flashing looks good at the same time.
Additionally, ensure your gutters are in good working condition and direct water effectively away from your home. Finally, keep your gutters free of clogs by cleaning them regularly or installing gutter guards.
Get Your Water-Damaged Siding Repair Services
Don’t take a chance by letting water damage worsen over time. Instead, call The Construction Group at 651-731-5857 or contact us online to schedule your siding and gutter inspection today.