Is your property suffering from damaged siding? Learn the signs; it could be time to replace your siding before major problems occur.
Regardless of the type of siding you have wrapping your home, it does require regular care, maintenance, and eventual replacement. Homeowners should expect their vinyl siding lifespan to be between 20 and 40 years. Over time, siding may crack, warp, break, and buckle. Getting it fixed or replaced before it becomes a bigger issue is essential.
When there are holes or other signs of damage on your home’s exteriors, the opportunity to repair it without seriously paying might have already come and gone. When your siding doesn’t protect your house from the elements effectively, it is susceptible to significant damage to the structure of your property.
It is imperative that you replace siding exteriors before the damage has time to spread and lead to more extensive issues, like animal infestations or, worse, structural problems. We’ve compiled a list of signs to watch for so you know when it’s time to replace your siding.
Continue reading below to learn more.
8 common signs it’s time to replace your siding
As a homeowner, it’s important to know your vinyl siding lifespan, understand care and maintenance practices, and when it’s time to replace it. As for replacing your siding, here’s what you need to know:
- Rotting, cracked, warped, and otherwise damaged siding — This is likely the most obvious and straightforward sign that you need to replace your siding. If you have wooden siding wrapping your property, look for panels that are crumbling or are about to crumble, as well as any dark spots.
In this situation, moisture has soaked into the wood fibers, and the laminate surrounding the wood cannot do its job. Rotting causes the wood’s strength to break down and become weak. This will only worsen if ignored.
As for vinyl siding, any warped sections or cracks and breaks could have rotted below the surface. These damaged areas allow water to infiltrate behind the siding, leading to moisture buildup and the rotting of your property’s structure. Once rotting happens, hiring a trusted siding professional to replace your siding and any rotted wood as soon as possible to avoid further damage is a good idea. - Mold, mildew, and fungus on your siding — Keep an eye on any growth that appears on your exterior siding, like moss, mold, or fungus. While some mildew and fungus are completely harmless, removing them promptly when you see them is necessary to avoid staining and future issues.
Moreover, any time these substances grow, moisture is present. Moisture being present could be an indicator that water is penetrating your siding. Make sure to look into this if this problem persists. - Siding is significantly faded — When siding becomes faded and significantly loses its color, the weatherproofing could have reached the end of its lifespan. This is a helpful indicator that the time has come to update and potentially upgrade your siding before a more severe issue pops up.
- Bubbling and blistering panels — A major red flag in the world of siding is blisters and bubbles forming below its surface. Blisters and bubbles could mean that water is trapped beneath the siding and moisture is causing the panels to shift.
We use siding on our homes to prevent moisture from entering our homes. If water is making its way in, the siding might not be doing a good job of keeping water out and it is probably time to replace it. - Peeling wallpaper and bubbling paint inside your house — Warped and bubbling surfaces are indicators of siding issues, and so are interior peeling and bubbling surfaces. Have you noticed peeling paint or loose wallpaper inside your house? Seeing this issue within your home could mean it’s time to replace your siding.
This concept might seem strange since there are so many layers between your siding and your internal walls, like wood, insulation, and drywall. However, when these layers are worn out, water and heat from the outside can easily permeate through and get to the inside of your house.
Moisture seeping through your siding and into your walls and ceiling can cause serious damage to your property. If you cannot identify any internal reasons for wallpaper falling off or your paint peeling (like leaks or foundational issues), it might be time to look outside for the culprit. - Steep monthly energy bills — Have you noticed your energy bill increase over the last few months? At a quick glance, you might think this is because of the rising cost of electricity or that the weather is changing and temperatures are rising or falling.
However, the real reason you’re spending so much of your hard-earned cash keeping your property at a comfortable temperature could mean something else. Often, higher energy bills have more to do with your siding than anything else.
Old siding cannot insulate your home effectively, so your HVAC system works overtime to maintain your desired interior temperature. If your utility bills are increasing, consider investing in new siding. - Your exteriors require frequent painting — The average house needs to be repainted every eight or 10 years (if you paint your siding). Chipped or peeling paint may mean it’s time to replace your siding.
Faded paint also indicates excessive heat is trapped below your siding. This occurs often on south-facing walls (extensive exposure to sunlight) or when your siding was installed too tight.
If you’re facing this issue, it could be a great time to upgrade to a material with a longer-lasting color and minimal maintenance. Today’s modern siding does not require painting, which can void some warranties. So, before you break out the paintbrush, make sure to read the fine print in your warranty. - You’re putting your house on the market — First impressions are everything, and in the world of real estate, you won’t get a second chance to make your first impression. If you want to sell your home and plan to put it on the market soon, doing things to boost your home value is crucial.
Investing in new siding is a great way to improve property value dramatically. Fresh, modern, and new siding makes your house more attractive to potential buyers and helps improve energy efficiency. Homes that have damaged or outdated exteriors often discourage buyers before they even step foot in your house.
Quality, materials, and style determine how much your property will increase in value. Choosing an exterior siding can help you meet all three of these factors and greatly increase your home value.
Time to replace siding? Mountain States Windows & Siding is here to help!
Between outdated exteriors, damaged siding, and wanting to increase your home value, Mountain State Windows & Siding is here for you.
Whether you know it’s time to replace siding on your house or you have questions about your vinyl siding lifespan, our team of professionals can help. We repair, replace, update, and upgrade your home exteriors with effective and efficient siding.
Our team is dedicated to our nearly flawless reputation and is proud to be known as Northern Utah’s trustworthy, hassle-free, and professional home improvement company. We work tirelessly to give our clients more than quality windows and siding (and kitchen and bathroom renos) — we also promise to give our clients the highest customer service available. Anyone who has worked with Mountain States knows we stand behind our work and products.
When you choose Mountain States, you can rest assured you will receive straightforward, premium, and friendly service with a smile. We serve residential and commercial properties all throughout Northern Utah, so if you live in Lehi, Salt Lake City, Payson, Park City, West Jordan, or a nearby city, contact Mountain States Windows & Siding today!
