Your home is where you and your loved ones feel safe and secure. A large part of that assurance comes from a strong and stable exterior to your house, including your siding. Typical vinyl siding can last between 20 and 40 years. But factors may contribute to an earlier deterioration of this part of your home.
How can you tell if your siding needs replacement rather than a minor repair or cleaning? Read on to learn three warning signs that it could be time to replace the siding on your home.
You Spot Physical Damage to Your Exterior Siding
Though a crack or hole in your siding may seem like a minor amount of damage, this could point to a larger foundational problem with the material. Cracks or loose panels could be subject to blowing away if you get a sudden windstorm in your area.
A small hole in the siding could signify that insects have infiltrated the exterior of the home. They likely have done further harm internally, requiring major restorative work to amend.
These types of structural concerns can lead to other problems too. If you see signs of mold, warping, or bubbling in your siding, this could mean that moisture has gotten through the material and will exhibit further harm to your home. Ideally, if you see this kind of damage in your siding, you should call a local contractor and be prepared to replace it.
You Cannot Keep Up with Maintenance for Your Current Siding
Some types of siding, like wood, require frequent and extensive maintenance to keep it looking and functioning at its best. If you feel unable to keep up with this schedule, you could risk the siding falling apart. This would expose the interior of the home to damage from external factors. Replacing siding with an easier-to-manage material like vinyl will save you time and energy in the long run.
Additionally, as siding ages, it may require a larger number of small repairs. These tasks can add up to taking a great deal of your time and money. In this case, it will be more cost-effective to replace the siding.
Your Energy Bills Have Risen
If you have seen higher charges from your utility company, your home might not be as energy efficient as it should be. This could be due to your siding underperforming. Even if your siding appears fine from the outside, there are small signs that it is not insulating your home the way that it needs to.
Drafts near the walls and windows of your home could mean that you should replace your existing siding with a more insulated option. This will lower the cost of your energy bill and improve the temperature regulation in your home.
You can feel comfortable in your home and confident in the durability of its exterior structure with new siding. If you plan to sell your home in the near future, new siding has the added bonus of granting you a higher resale value.