As long as it’s a quality product, vinyl siding can last 20-40 years in climates like we experience here in Wisconsin.
That said, if you wind up with damaged siding you might be faced with the question of whether you should have it repaired (or attempt repairing yourself), or if your siding needs replacement.
This article will help you be in-the-know as to how to proceed if your vinyl siding is damaged. Let’s begin with a brief discussion on how to inspect your siding to assess the damage level …
INSPECTING YOUR VINYL SIDING
Whether it’s from hail or debris, pest infestation, warping, or a wind storm that’s caused missing or bent vinyl siding panels, it’s important to accurately assess the extent of damage. Here’s how:
Perform a visual inspection of your home’s siding. We recommend a thorough walk around the entire home, as damage may not be limited to a particular side.
What you’re looking for is siding that shows any signs of:
- Wear
- Cracks
- Holes
- Warping, which tends to occur in areas that are repeatedly exposed to heat
You should also be on the lookout for:
- Bent siding
- Missing panels
- Loose panels
UNDERSTANDING WHEN TO REPAIR & WHEN TO REPLACE VINYL SIDING
Whether you’re considering a DIY siding repair, or hiring a professional, it’s important to first discern if your vinyl siding damage is repairable, or if it needs replacement.
That said, before embarking on doing it yourself, it’s important to make sure you’re comfortable making the repairs and that you have all the right tools — and possibly a helper, depending on the scope of the repair/replacement. If you don’t have any experience with siding repair, it is advisable to hire an experienced professional.
The need for repair vs. replacement greatly depends on a handful of things, including:
- How much work needs to be done. In other words, a few small dings or cracks may be an easy, doable repair, while multiple dings/cracks may demand replacement of one or more vinyl siding panels.
- If a panel has been partially or fully pulled off from wind damage, it’s possible that it can just be re-secured as long as there is no underlying damage. But if the panel is bent, or has incurred damage, it’s likely a replacement panel will be necessary.
With any (or more than one) of the following scenarios, replacement is advised:
- Large splits/cracks on siding panels.
- Swelling in multiple places on a board.
- The presence of things like rot, fungus, mold, and/or mildew all over one or more panels.
- One or more siding panels continue to dislodge.
- Another, more subtle indicator that you may need to replace all of the siding on your home is if your utility bill has suddenly become more expensive. This can happen in summer or winter months, and can be a sign to at least get your vinyl siding inspected to see if your siding is still providing optimal insulation.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
If you’re replacing vinyl siding panels, be sure to match the existing panels’ width, thickness and aesthetic.- Depending on the age of your vinyl siding, finding a replacement that’s an exact match may prove challenging, and you may have to consider color-match paint that’s made for painting vinyl siding as an option.
- Never apply dark paint to a lighter color of siding. The reason is that the darker paint can absorb more heat than the panel is designed to take — causing it to warp.
Interested in a free inspection of your siding?
Feel free to get in touch with Legacy Exteriors anytime. The first thing we’ll do is schedule a thorough, complimentary inspection of your siding — with no strings attached — to see exactly what’s going on. We’re always happy to help!