Vinyl siding is an incredibly popular home siding product due to its minimal maintenance, affordable, upfront cost, and incredibly long life span. But, while your vinyl siding keeps your space safe from the harsh weather outside, it is slowly being worn down. These harsh conditions may cause damage over time and require you to replace your vinyl siding.
Damaged vinyl siding can lead to serious problems and expensive repairs in your home if left unaddressed. Our team at Unlimited Siding wants you to know several clear signs that you need to replace your vinyl siding so you can keep the inside of your home safe.
1. There Are Broken Or Missing Panels
While some of the signs that you need to replace your vinyl siding are more subtle, some of them are more obvious. One of the more obvious signs that your siding needs to be replaced is broken or missing panels. You might think that small cracks or chips can be repaired without replacing the entirety of your home’s siding.
However, if you are dealing with small cracks or chips, this might be a sign that your siding is beginning to wear down. This small damage can spread quickly, and it is important that you schedule an appointment to replace your vinyl siding before it causes more substantial damage, including moisture seeping between the siding and the walls inside your home.
2. Bubbles Or Blisters Have Formed
The bubbling and blistering of your home’s vinyl siding can be a sign of a few significant problems within the siding. This bubbling or blistering may be a result of a heat source being too close to your home. If you light a grill that is close to the home or the temperature outside reaches extreme highs, it may cause the siding to bubble up.
Bubbling and blistering beneath the siding may also be a sign that water has gotten stuck. These bubbles and blisters can put undue strain on the siding in your home and lead to even more substantial damage. If you see blisters or bubbles, make sure to hire a professional to replace your vinyl siding.
3. You Have Mold Or Mildew
There are several reasons why mold and mildew grow on your home’s siding, including excessive moisture, lack of sunlight, and a build-up of dirt and grime. If the mold and mildew presence on your siding is a result of excess moisture, it is likely in your best interest to replace your vinyl siding because it may be a recurring problem otherwise, though you may attempt to clean it off before replacing it.
If you want to try cleaning the mold off of your siding, you should use a bleach or vinegar cleaning solution to do this; however, this might not be enough to eliminate the problem entirely. While the siding is being replaced, you may be able to find the root cause of the mold problem, allowing you to address this before it becomes a problem inside your home as well.
4. Your Energy Bill Has Gone Up
Your home’s vinyl siding plays a big part in your insulation and energy efficiency. When it is well-installed, your vinyl siding may help trap warm air inside and keep out the cold. With extra insulation barriers, your siding should keep your home warm all winter long. But, if it is time to replace your vinyl siding, you might notice your energy bill rising incrementally every month.
Broken or old siding may let the warm air out of your home, forcing your HVAC system to work harder to keep the space warm. The easiest way to keep your energy bill down after this is to replace your vinyl siding. Failing to replace your vinyl siding and instead dealing with the increase in your energy bill may cost you more money in the long term, and this project shouldn’t be put off.
5. The Color Is Faded
Sometimes, you decide to replace your vinyl siding, not because it is damaged but because it impacts your home’s curb appeal. If the siding on your home is looking incredibly faded and is bringing down the exterior appearance of your home, it might be time for you to invest in an upgrade to reinvigorate your home.
Many vinyl siding products come with weatherproofing that protects them from fading as a result of sun exposure. If the siding has faded, it is a sign that this weatherproofing has worn off. While the fading might be the first sign of damage as a result of weather exposure, the damage that follows might be more substantial, and you should replace your vinyl siding as soon as possible to protect your home.
6. You Are Getting Ready To Sell
When you are preparing to sell your home, you are likely already making upgrades and updates to your home to ensure you can list it for the highest possible price. If you are preparing to sell, your relator may suggest that you replace your vinyl siding before you list to ensure your home has the best curb appeal possible.
Replacing your siding is appealing to homebuyers for several reasons. It may make your home’s exterior look more refreshed than other homes on the market. Additionally, as we mentioned above, new siding ensures your home is well insulated. This means new homebuyers can trust that their home’s internal temperature is easily regulated, and they won’t have to pay more on their energy bills.
7. It Was Poorly Installed
Vinyl siding has an incredibly long lifespan if it is installed properly. However, if it is improperly installed, you may begin to notice problems with the siding well before you should. Your vinyl siding is incredibly susceptible to contracting as temperatures fluctuate throughout the year. If it is installed at the wrong time, when the material is too warm or cold, this may present problems.
You may notice cracking as the material attempts to accommodate the changes in weather. These cracks may start small but can spread rapidly. As we mentioned above, damaged panels can lead to substantial problems with your siding. If you notice some damage occurring as a result of poor installation, it might be a good idea to replace your vinyl siding.
Replace Your Vinyl Siding With Unlimited Siding
High-quality, well-installed vinyl siding has a lifespan of between 20 and 40 years. But, when it is time to be replaced, you should schedule a replacement appointment with a team of experienced, trustworthy professionals as soon as possible. Our team at Unlimited Siding has years of experience installing new, beautiful siding on homes across the Wasatch Front, and we’re confident that we have the perfect solution for your home as well when you are ready to replace your vinyl siding.
In addition to our vinyl siding services, we provide LP Smartside and Board and Batten siding, soffits and fascia installation, and more. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to update the siding on your home or would like to speak to a member of our team about the other services we provide, contact us today.
