The siding that wraps your home performs many functions. Siding protects your home’s interior structure, assets, and loved ones from the elements. Siding contributes to the energy efficiency of your home, and siding also plays a pivotal role in curb appeal and home value. That’s why it’s important to keep the siding on your home in good condition and make repairs when needed.

That said, how do you know when your home’s siding has been damaged? Sometimes siding damage is easy to spot, and other times you may need the help of a professional home contractor to detect siding damage. Read on to learn more about how to spot siding damage, the problems damaged siding can cause, and how to deal with siding problems moving forward.

EXTERIOR SIGNS OF SIDING DAMAGE

Signs of exterior damage to your home will vary depending on the siding material.  Some signs of siding damage will appear inside the home regardless of the type of siding on your home. The following list pertains to how to spot exterior siding damage according to the siding material:

  • Vinyl siding: While vinyl siding is very durable, it is not impervious to the elements. Signs of damage to vinyl siding include cracks between the ridges and valleys, chipped panels, and holes or chips caused by hail or wind-driven debris.
  • Metal siding: Signs of damage to aluminum siding include chipped or peeling paint, dents, dings, and rust.
  • Wood siding: Signs of damage to wood siding include peeling paint, warped panels, cracks and splits in the panels, soft or spongy panels, decaying panels, holes from insects, and mold or mildew.
  • Brick siding: Wind-driven debris and hail can crack bricks, particularly on the brick corners.  If water infiltrates behind the bricks, it can cause some bricks to bulge.
  • Stucco siding: Powerful winds can propel debris and hail with enough force to chip stucco or put holes in stucco siding.

INTERIOR SIGNS OF SIDING DAMAGE

The primary purpose of home siding is to protect your home’s structure and interior from the elements. So, even if exterior signs of siding damage aren’t obvious to spot, look for the following interior signs of siding damage.

  • Interior paint and wallpaper: Exterior siding damage often leads to moisture problems inside the home. Moisture problems are often identified by areas of interior paint and wallpaper that are bubbling, peeling, and/or discolored.
  • Mold and mildew: Mold and mildew on walls, ceilings, and in the basement are more interior signs of siding damage. Mold and mildew may also adversely affect the health of those inside your home. So, it’s important to target mold and mildew problems through siding repair or siding replacement.
  • Drywall problems: Moisture infiltration from exterior siding damage may also cause drywall to soften and crumble. Damaged drywall should be replaced after the siding damage has been taken care of.
  • Insulation: Moisture infiltration may damage insulation inside walls, ceilings, and also in the basement. Moldy or wet insulation should be replaced.

PROFESSIONAL SIDING INSPECTION

Siding damage has the potential to cause even more problems for your home. For example, insect infiltration is more likely to occur with damaged siding. Further, once siding damage has occurred, the siding is weakened which may lead to additional damage that could lower the value of your home.

If you have seen exterior signs or interior signs of siding damage to your home, contact Aurum Contracting for a professional inspection. Our professional home inspectors are trained to identify siding damage that may not be obvious to the untrained eye. Furthermore, the home inspector will take images and videos of the exterior and interior signs of siding damage during a comprehensive inspection.  These images will help you determine the best action to take to make sure your home and property are protected moving forward.

When you need a siding inspection, siding repair, or siding replacement for your home, contact the professionals at Aurum Contracting at (608) 312-4343.  We offer FREE SIDING INSPECTIONS and work with your insurance company if your siding has been damaged by a storm.