All living things need water to survive. But given that your siding is not alive (we hope, unless you count your current moss problem), its relationship with H2O is not a positive one. While vinyl, steel, and other types of siding are designed to keep water out, neglect can mean that their strength is compromised.
And when water gets into places it shouldn’t be, it can cause some major problems with your home’s structural integrity, like:
- Mold
- Weakness
- Sagging walls and ceilings
Luckily, with the right care, your home will remain protected through storms and sunny, sprinkler-filled days alike. Read on for the lowdown on siding and water protection, courtesy of Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors, your trusted team of Sauk Rapids siding contractors.
Siding Isn’t Perfectly Waterproof
How vulnerable is my home, really? You may be thinking. It’s got siding, shouldn’t that siding be designed to be waterproof?
Sort of. Vinyl siding is installed in a series of overlapping planks, and while this system does a great job of ridding your home of water on its own, dampness can still work its way up underneath the planks. This is why many exterior contractors will use an additional barrier underneath a vinyl siding installation: to help protect from that additional moisture. Planked steel siding operates in much the same way.
Seamless steel siding, thanks to the relative absence of seams, excels in repelling rain and the elements, giving homeowners worry-free protection. However, just like its planked cousins, the mere fact that it’s installed doesn’t mean your home is protected; water still can seep through the connecting points.
All of the above is why the best way to ensure that your siding is waterproofed is to
Hire a Competent Siding Company
Check reviews, get quotes—anything you need to do in order to make sure you’re getting top-notch work. Once water has compromised your siding, unless it’s a simple repair concern, there’s not much that can be done to rid your home of it permanently, short of remediation and a brand new installation job.
The right siding contractor will understand that their materials alone won’t guarantee waterproofing, as we explained above. They’ll put in the legwork to get the job done right—and watertight.
- They will use the right flashing techniques to redirect water from where exterior features meet.
- You will see them wrap your home in house wrap.
- Caulking—filling up small holes with waterproof paste—should be done sparingly; too much indicates sloppy workmanship.
Keep Up With Storm Damage Repairs
We get it, you didn’t budget for that early season storm, nor for your siding to be strewn about the yard in shards. However, when bad weather rolls through and your home doesn’t take it well, it needs attention, and STAT.
Storm damage often leaves water damage in its wake, and if it’s not promptly taken care of, mold colonies can begin to take shape. These are much more expensive to get rid of than a simple siding repair job.
Of course, most people would call storm restoration services were they to suddenly find their home sidingless. But for those who see the smallest crack and decide to put it off, take this as your cue to get on top of things.
Mind Your Sprinkler System
Not only is the systematic splattering of water streams on the side of your home annoying, it could very well be contributing to hard-to-see water damage. As we said, a variety of siding types are installed as interlocking planks. When water is forced up and under those planks by your sprinkler day after day, it’s practically a guarantee that you’ll encounter water damage at some point or another.
The solution? Water your house-side garden yourself and change the angle of your sprinklers to give your siding a break.
Make Sure Your Gutters Are Clear
No one part of your exterior operates independently of the others. In other words: If one part of your home has water problems, chances are the others will too. Nowhere is this more true than in the relationship between your siding and gutters.
Gutters are a critical part of your home’s moisture management system. After your roof sheds rain, they direct it safely away from your foundation and siding. However, if they’re clogged with debris, your gutters will overflow, dripping that water straight down onto your siding. While your siding is designed to handle rain, it only can do so with the help of a well-working gutter installation, so stay on top of cleaning!
Call Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors for Siding Installation
From roofing to seamless gutters to siding, we handle everything your home needs to stay in tip-top shape. Give our Sauk Rapids office a call today at 320-252-9086.