How to Detect Damaged House Siding

How to Detect Damaged House Siding Most people are unaware of the extent of damage to the siding on their homes. Water and moisture infiltration can cause house siding to expand, mold, deteriorate, warp, buckle, etc. However, many problems can be remedied if caught early on. Routine inspection is essential. Here are some tips to get you started: Look for sickness. Damage occurs most commonly around chimneys, nearest the ground, where roofs dead end at walls, and where gutters are present, so check there first. Inspect the bottom edges of your house siding. Dew tends to settle on the bottom edge and absorb into the entire panel. If you see cracks ("edge checking"), chipping of the laminate ("delamination"), or rot ("fungal degradation"), moisture has entered your house siding. Compare thicknesses. Inspect the panels up under the eaves and then compare with the panels nearest the ground. When siding absorbs moisture, the panels thicken or swell. This is referred to as "thickness swell." This may occur along the edges, joints, around nails, or throughout the entire panel. Thumb pressure test. When no visual damage is present, you can simply push on the house siding with your thumb. If the siding indents at all, there is damage. House siding damage is usually due to moisture and/or poor installation. Siding can start to deteriorate within 5 to 10 years; however, damage occurring as early as 2 years is not uncommon. When purchasing siding, make sure to keep the receipt. If you need to replace damaged house siding, note the brand, style, finish, and dimensions of the existing siding so you can find an exact match.