Siding is one of those things that very few Tulsa homeowners consider. Many don’t even remember to check their siding in-detail before buying a home. Because it lasts for decades, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to feel that siding is practically indestructible and lasts forever. The fact of the matter is that while siding can and does last a very long time, it will eventually need to be replaced. Whether you’re looking to improve the appearance of your current home or increase the value of a property you’re about to sell, new siding can repair years of wear and is a great way to refresh or transform the outside of your home.
Of course, few people want to call the local, Tulsa siding contractor just because they don’t know when the siding was installed but there are a few signs that make the issue undeniably clear. Visible damage and malformations of your siding, extensive damage, and more subtle clues can be used to determine if your siding is on its last legs and ready to be replaced.
1) Fading and Discoloration
Modern siding is made to hold onto its original color or exterior paint for years, sometimes nearly a decade before the outside of your house will need to be repainted. While you normally just walk right up to the door, take a minute to examine your home exterior from a distance. An interesting way to calculate is that if your siding looks faded, it’s probably overdue for maintenance or even full reinstallation.
Discoloration is another concern for many of the same reasons. However, while fading happens fairly evenly in response to the sun, discoloration in patches and streaks can mark a greater underlying problem. Discoloration of the paint can be the result of siding deterioration and large splotches of siding that is the wrong color could be storm damage or mold.
2) Cracks, Bubbles, and Warping
Siding is designed to protect your home from all kinds of weather but it is not, in itself, indestructible. Hailstones can pound it out of shape, gale force winds can pry off slats, and extreme temperatures can cause serious problems with older siding. When siding is exposed to varying temperature conditions, harsh weather, or simply ages for too long in the sun, it can begin to warp, crack, and even bubble. Bubbles and warping are both signs that your siding may be holding moisture in ways that are causing continuous damage.
3) Dry Rot and Mold
Speaking of moisture, the enemy of almost all household maintenance, siding can also take on an even less pleasant state if it is made of wood and not sealed with modern methods. Dry rot and mold are both unfortunate consequences of constant damp and they can literally eat away your siding. Dry rot causes siding to decay and crumble away while mold often prefers to grow in the spaces between moisture-warped siding that has become loose and the walls of your house. Both can usually be spotted as discoloration and soft spots.
4) Peeling Paint Indoors
While we’ve been talking about identifying problems by examining the siding itself, you may also be able to detect even deeper and more urgent problems with your siding if you have noticed the paint inside the house acting up. Interior paint is supposed to hold in most possible indoor environments but it does assume that the outdoors are kept out by the roof, siding, and weatherstripping. If you start to see your interior paint peeling, this is most likely because your siding is letting moisture into the walls.
5) Energy Inefficiency
Finally, for the same reason damaged and old siding can cause paint to peel, it can also wreak havoc on your power bill. If the siding is not helping to form a barrier between the inside and the outside, then it can’t prevent your AC or heat from escaping either. If your thermostat has been running non-stop and spiking your power bill higher than usual even for this time of year, old siding could be the cause.
If your home is perfect except for the small factor of aging, warped, and inefficient siding, then it’s time to seriously consider repair and replacement. If you’re ready to call Tulsa Renew, your local siding contractors for an inspection and a home exterior update, contact us today!