BACK TO BLOG

Siding After Winter: Spotting Cracks, Loose Panels, and Hidden Moisture Before Spring Rains

With spring just around the corner, now is a good time to go around your house and inspect your siding. Siding issues often become more noticeable toward the end of winter when wind, freeze-thaw cycles and hidden moisture suddenly result in panels cracking or starting to come loose. When the heavy spring rains arrive, these types of siding issues can result in major damage. By inspecting your siding and getting any problems fixed ahead of time, you can avoid costly repairs and keep your home’s exterior looking beautiful.

The Most Common Winter-to-Spring Siding Issues

The most common types of siding damage after winter are cracks, holes and panels pulling away from the wall. All types of siding continually expand and contract as the temperature changes. During the freeze-thaw cycles that happen throughout the winter and early spring, this expansion and contraction can potentially lead to siding panels cracking. It can also cause panels to come loose and start to pull away from the wall, especially if the siding wasn’t installed properly.

Issues with moisture getting behind the siding can happen more often during winter as well. Ice freezing behind siding panels can loosen them and cause them to sag. As the siding contracts in the cold, gaps can form that allow water to seep behind the panels.

Vinyl siding can be highly prone to cracks and holes during the winter. Freezing temperatures make vinyl more brittle. When the wind blows, flying debris that hits the siding can cause it to crack or put a hole in it.

Where Hidden Moisture Shows Up First (and What It Can Impact)

Hidden moisture behind siding can be extremely problematic. If the siding is in good condition and was installed properly, water should drain straight down the wall to the ground. Cracked siding, holes, gaps and loose siding panels allow water to seep underneath and soak into the wood sheeting on the walls. If the gutters are clogged and frequently overflow, it can lead to water dripping down the siding and lead to even bigger moisture issues.

Moisture issues are especially common at inside and outside corners, at the top of walls under the roof eaves, where the siding buts into the soffit panels and around window and door frames. Siding panels should fit snugly into the pieces of J-channel around window and door frames and along the top of the walls and the corners. If a panel is too short, a gap can form between the siding and the J-channel when the panel contracts. This can also lead to the panel coming loose on that end. If a panel is too long, heat can cause it to expand enough that it warps or bows outward and no longer sits tightly against the wall.

The bottom siding panels, where the exterior wall meets the foundation, usually don’t sit within the J-channel. When snow piles up against the bottom of the wall during winter, moisture can sometimes seep behind these panels as well.

Moisture behind siding is a concern for several reasons. The main one is that it causes the wooden wall sheets to rot and deteriorate. As the sheets start rotting, you’ll then have more and more issues with siding panels coming loose. Dealing with wood rot is costly and time-consuming, as the only way to tackle the issue is to tear most or all of the siding off the wall and then replace the affected sheets. You may be able to reuse the existing siding if it’s still in good shape, but even then, you’re usually looking at several thousand dollars’ worth of work.

The moisture also typically penetrates through the wood and makes the insulation inside the exterior wall damp. When insulation gets wet, it becomes less effective at blocking out heat and cold. That means you’ll experience more issues with hot and cold spots in the affected areas and higher energy bills due to your HVAC system having to do more work to cool and heat the house. Damp wood and insulation can quickly lead to mold growth inside the wall as well, leading to significant indoor air quality issues that worsen allergy and asthma symptoms.

What a Professional Siding Assessment Typically Checks

A professional siding assessment starts with visually inspecting the panels for damage and making sure that all of the caulking, flashing and J-channel is intact and in good condition. Looking for signs of moisture and water damage or rotting around windows, doors and along the flashing is also essential. In some cases, the contractor may use a moisture meter to check for hidden issues that aren’t readily visible. Checking the structural integrity to make sure that all siding panels are properly secured to the wall is equally important. Once the assessment is complete, the contractor can then determine if siding repair is possible or if the problems are so extensive that they require a full siding replacement.

Address Siding Issues Now to Avoid Bigger Spring Repairs

Siding issues are always something you should tackle immediately, as they will eventually worsen, causing further damage and increasingly high repair costs. At S&K Roofing, we have more than 45 years of experience providing professional roof, siding, and gutter services in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia. Our top-notch customer service and quality workmanship have made us one of the most trusted names in the industry and ensure that we provide a first-class experience every time. To schedule a siding inspection, roof repair, or to get a handle on any issues before they become bigger, contact us today.