5 Signs You Should Consider Replacing Vinyl Siding

Even the best vinyl siding doesn’t last forever. If your siding is starting to show signs of wear and tear, you can find new vinyl siding options at your local building materials supplier. For example, many of our customers love the natural aesthetic of vinyl shake siding. While no one wants to spend more money than they have to on home repairs, it’s important to recognize when house siding needs to be replaced. Keep reading to learn the 5 signs you should consider replacing vinyl siding.

1. Melted Vinyl Siding

Your grill produces enough heat to sear a thick slab of steak—and melt vinyl siding. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, you’ll want to grill at least 10 feet away from your home to avoid starting a fire.

While grilling is a summer tradition, it’s important to exercise proper fire safety. If you see warped vinyl siding, this may be a sign you are grilling too close to your home. Vinyl siding can also melt if your neighbor has high efficiency windows, but this is less common. We offer a wide range of home siding options once it’s time for replacement.

2. Mold and Mildew

Does your vinyl siding have gray, white, or black spots? While power washing can remove mold and mildew it can also force water underneath vinyl siding to soak wall cavities, insulation, and more. Once water is trapped inside your walls, it creates perfect conditions for even more mold and mildew. If you have a significant amount of mold and mildew on the exterior of your home, you may want to think about replacing vinyl siding.

3. Structural Damage

Old houses settle over time, which can make siding buckle or bulge. If you suspect structural damage to your home, your first step should be to call a structural engineer. Otherwise, we recommend new home siding.

4. Insect Damage

Vinyl siding protects your home from the elements. Unfortunately, it can also shelter earwigs, ants, wasps, bees, termites, and other creepy crawlies. If you see small holes in siding, this could be a sign that insects have burrowed inside.

Small holes in siding not only reduce curb appeal, but can lead to water damage. To check for termites, gently push a screwdriver against the siding. If the siding is soft, you may have an insect problem. Call an exterminator and start shopping for new exterior siding. You can still get vinyl siding that looks like wood for a natural aesthetic that won’t attract termites.

5. Poor Siding Installation

While vinyl siding can last for decades, it may need premature replacement if it wasn’t installed properly. Siding can become damaged if nailed too tightly or at an angle. You should be able to move vinyl house siding a half inch or so horizontally. If you’re unable to do this, it means the contractor nailed the siding to the fasteners too tightly. Siding needs enough room to expand and contract with fluctuating temperatures. When siding can’t move, it warps or buckles. The nails may also pop to create bulges in exterior siding.

Eikenhout is a building supply company that is dedicated to helping homeowners and contractors find high-quality building products for their next project. If you are interested in our inventory of residential and commercial building supplies, please feel free to call any of our nine Michigan locations.