Your siding plays a major role in boosting the curb appeal of your home and protecting your indoor living spaces against the harsh weather. Unfortunately, many homeowners overlook the health of their siding. Unless there is an urgent issue, having siding replaced may not be a top priority.
American Roofing & Construction, LLC, a top siding and roof replacement company, reminds homeowners that siding wears out, cracks and breaks over time. If left unattended, it may suffer moisture damage. To help you determine whether your home needs a new siding, be sure to watch for the following signs:
It may not be visually obvious at first, but your siding might have started rotting or warping. When performing a siding inspection on your own, take a screwdriver or any blunt, pointed object and poke around for rotting or warped boards. If it’s soft, your siding has begun to rot, which means you need to replace it as soon as possible.
After a heavy rainfall or hailstorm, you might also notice one or two cracked or loose boards. While this may not be an immediate cause for concern, you may need to remove the bad siding pieces and replace them. However, if the damage is extensive, it may indicate severe problems that require the services of a professional. Keep in mind that water may enter behind those pieces of siding and expose your home to further damage.
Small patches of fungus, mold or mildew may not be an emergency, but large amounts can be extremely harmful, especially if someone in your family is suffering from allergies or asthma. For this reason, if you find any of these microorganisms on the surfaces of your siding, get in touch with your siding and roofing contractor immediately.
A roofing contractor will inspect your home’s siding, particularly at or near the seams, to find the cause of the fungus or mold growth. In most cases, water has penetrated your siding and accumulated inside the wall, where it is slowly growing. To prevent moisture damage from getting worse or spreading to other parts of your home, your contractor may advise you to replace your siding.
If you notice a significant increase in your heating or cooling bills, you might think your drafty windows or poor attic insulation are to blame. However, you should not rule out your siding in the equation. There are many instances where a poorly performing siding and low-grade wall insulation is behind the spike in your energy consumption.
To check if your siding is faulty, your contractor will perform a thorough visual inspection. He will examine not only your siding but also the seams where it meets the roof. If the contractor discovers that indoor air is escaping through the siding, you would need to invest in a more energy-efficient siding replacement.
For more inquiries about exterior home improvement, turn to American Roofing & Construction, LLC. We offer quality services, from siding to roofing installation. To get a siding or roof estimate, fill out our contact form to set an appointment. For residents in Mobile, AL, call us at (251) 379-9712. For residents in Birmingham, AL, call us at (205) 223-2469.
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