Home’s siding can enhance the curb appeal of houses in Pennsylvania, but its main purpose isn’t a pretty look, it serves as a protective barrier for your home. And because of The Keystone State’s very humid climate, those same house sidings can be easily targeted by mold, mildew, or even fungi starting to grow and destroying the sidings in the process. Plus, don’t forget the Eastern subterranean termites, which are prevalent in PA, further increasing the risk to wooden structures.
Nothing is eternal, and that applies to your home’s siding as well. Your job is to know when it is time to do something about it. If you don’t know how, just be patient, soon you will find out.
Over time it can deteriorate due to weather exposure, age, and other factors, and the most important thing is to know when is the time to repair it, in order to prevent bigger damage and costly repairs, especially if you take Pennsylvania’s changing weather conditions.
If you are not familiar with this topic and would like to find out how to recognize the signs that your siding needs repair or replacement, this article is going to be very helpful.
Here are five key indicators you should learn how to recognize that tell you your siding needs immediate attention:
This one should be easy to detect. Cracks and gaps are something you don’t have to be an expert to notice. Those are clear signs of damage that allow moisture to seep in, leading to a lot of problems, like mold, rot, and structural damage and this can be concerning when you take into account PA’s seasonal rains and the humidity.
If you ignore these visible signs of damage, they can cost you so much more later. Make sure to call professionals for repair or replacement if you notice this kind of damage.
How to Avoid Cracks and Gaps in the House
There's no denying that there are many causes for cracks and gaps in your house’s sidings, be it weather-related factors, temperature changes, improper installation, termites, or even aging of the materials themselves. But there’s a way to avoid all of these.
1. Regular Maintenance: You will have to check/inspect the siding twice (or at least once) a year if you’re planning on catching potential problems before they evolve into something more serious.
2. Seal Openings: Caulk small cracks and openings before they expand into larger ones.
3. Proper Installation: Hire qualified experts for your siding installation to ensure correct installation.
4. Weatherproofing: Apply weather-resistant coatings to combat PA’s diverse climate.
5. Manage Vegetation: Prevent branch damage through periodic tree trimmings.
If your siding is not lying flat against your home’s exterior, that is an indicator that there is a problem. Usually, warped or buckled siding indicates problems like water infiltration or poor installation. If you notice this, it is very important to address this issue as soon as possible to prevent deeper structural damage, especially with Pennsylvania’s temperatures which tend to fluctuate a lot.
Indoor issues like peeling paint or wallpaper are a red flag! This can happen due to moisture penetrating through damaged siding and affecting interior walls.
Additional advice on how to detect moisture problems early: Don’t wait to see big damage, because then you are going to have big and costly repairs, for sure. Look for water stains on ceilings or walls. Also, look for musty odors, or soft spots in drywall, because those are all signs of hidden water damage caused by compromised siding which is (unfortunately) common in Pennsylvania’s often humid environment.
If you notice mold, mildew, or fungus on your siding, that is not a good sign! It means that moisture is trapped which can lead to deeper water damage if you don’t react immediately.
Also, you need to make sure that mold is only surface-level because if you neglect this issue thinking that you can simply clean mold from walls, persistent growth can create problems that are high-cost for repair. Mold can easily return – especially during Pennsylvania’s damp seasons.
And don’t forget termites. If you notice any early signs of termite damage (e.g., small holes or missing pieces of wood) act immediately to contain the damage as much as you can. Termites can work surprisingly fast and the damage can increase exponentially really quickly.
If you need a professional siding contractor in Pennsylvania, but you’re also thinking, “Where can I find a siding contractor near me?”, you can refer to the Yellow Pages or Yelp, or simply do a quick internet search on your phone. That should do the trick.
This is also one of the indicators that are easier to detect. Look and compare your energy bills. If you notice that your heating and cooling bills have risen unexpectedly, it can mean that your siding is “guilty”.
Damaged siding can compromise your home’s insulation, which makes your HVAC system work harder to maintain an appropriate temperature in your home. This is very noticeable during the hot summers and freezing winters that are normal in PA.
Additional advice on how to improve home energy efficiency: There are energy-efficient siding materials that can significantly reduce utility costs. It is a long-term solution and saves energy, so you should consider siding options with better insulation properties.
Having learned what to pay attention to, make sure to check that beautiful home you’ve got in Pennsylvania, and ensure there are no cracks and gaps in your walls, with no warping or buckling. Also, indoor walls need checking for peeling paint or wallpaper, and check each wall for mold, mildew, and fungus.
Most of these problems can be prevented if noticed in their early stages so wise to keep a check on them regularly.
