Siding issues and repair
Which one is worse as a homeowner: siding repair and house painting? Understandably, both are not a fun chore and once you have had siding installed or your house painted, youโd like to think it wonโt need either one again for at least twenty years, right?
Unfortunately, here in the rust belt part of America, the winters do a number on our houses, leaving them with painting or siding repair needed. So, can siding be repaired? Yes, vinyl or wood siding repairs are possible with a little bit of effort, and the best part of that is you can do it yourself if you donโt want to pay siding repair contractors.
Although they will have the proper tools and the knowledge for siding repair for houses, depending on the size of the repair need, you could save as much as $2,000 by doing it yourself.
When should you replace siding?
Cracks and holes are apparent signs that siding needs to be repaired or replaced, you know that, or you wouldnโt be reading this right? The damage could be from basic wear and tear, or it could be from tree limbs falling or footballs getting kicked into the house. Some damage isnโt visible from the street, but up close, you see the damage, and you know that canโt be good for your home.
If you are spotting any of the following, siding repair may be possible, or you may need to get some quotes for new siding:
- Chips, dents, holes: These are the most obvious damages and create an open invitation for bugs, mildew, and mold to work in under the siding and start working on the structure of your house. Siding repair with holes, dents, or chips is usually possible if the damage isnโt widespread and already spread too far underneath.
- Cracked or loose siding: Cracks, gaps, and loose siding will allow water to seep under the siding and into the interior walls of your home. Fortunately, siding repair is possible for these types of damages.
- Dry rot: The exterior of the siding may look okay but under the siding, if there is any rot started, it is beyond siding repair.
- Frequent repainting: When the siding of your home needs frequent repainting, it has lost its waterproofing ability and is time to be replaced.
- Bubbling or warped panels: Siding that bubbles or warps is the result of extreme weather damage and heat. If siding repair isnโt done to fix the bubbles and warps, under the siding will be exposed to the elements and bigger problems will begin, resulting in new siding needed.
- Fungus, mildew, or mold: When you notice any type of growth that is moisture-related on the underneath side of the siding panels, you have a leak somewhere that needs to be addressed. If caught soon enough, siding repair is possible.
Can you replace one piece of siding?
Thanks to the invention of the โzip toolโ, yes, you can do siding repair for one piece now! With this handy tool, available at big box home improvement stores or online, you can replace that one piece in under 30 minutes. The only downside is if your siding is more than 2 or 3 years old, the color may be off a little bit. You can have custom paint made to match the existing siding if the difference is too noticeable. Here are basic steps using the zip tool and new piece of siding to repair that baseball bullseye.
- Start at one end of the piece that is damaged and push the zip tool end under the siding until it hooks to the bottom lip.
- Sliding the zip tool along, release the vinyl siding from the bottom edge, releasing it from the piece below.
- Pulling the zip tool down and out, unhook the bottom lip, sliding along the edge, and pull out the siding as you go along.
- Then unzip the vinyl pieces above the damaged vinyl piece.
- Behind the vinyl siding, slip a flat bar and raise the nails out.
- Slide the replacement vinyl piece up, pushing it into place until the lower lip is locked into the lower piece.
- Drive roofing nails through the flange, spacing the 1-1/4โ nails every 16 inches.
- Nail in the center of the slot, leaving 1/32โ of space between the nail and siding to allow the vinyl some movement.
- With the new piece in place, use the zip tool to lock the piece above the replacement piece down over it.
- Starting at one end, pull the lip down as you twist the siding zip tool with a slight force that leads the edge down.
- Sliding the zip tool as you push in on the replacement vinyl just behind the tool to snap it into place.
How many years does siding last?
On the average, vinyl siding last up to sixty years. This popular choice for most homeowners requires little effort of maintenance, occasional cleaning for aesthetic purposes and removing algae and mold. With a good quality vinyl siding that is professional installed and with scrupulous care and maintenance, your vinyl siding can last 100 years!
Why is my siding coming off?
There are several reasons why vinyl siding comes off of houses, with the number one reason being poor installation. You can buy the best quality of vinyl siding there is, but if the installation job is shoddy, the results will be shoddy too. Poor installation includes cheap or lack of any lining or paper wrap underneath the vinyl siding. This keeps moisture out and stops leaks because once a lea begins, the siding days are limited. Other reasons for vinyl siding coming off is the age and the weather, which both are out of our control as a homeowner or a contractor. Call (610) 689-3737 today for your siding repair needs in Oley, PA.