You hired professional contractors to perform siding installation on your Boulder home, so your job is done, right? Now it’s time to sit back and relax while your home appreciates in value.
Not so fast!
Many homeowners fail to realize that whether it’s vinyl or stucco, wood or fiber cement, siding has to be inspected on a regular basis. It’s your home’s first line of defense against the elements and one of the main ways to keep hot or cool air inside your home where it belongs. Without proper visual and physical inspection, small problems with your house siding could quickly become major repair issues.
What Should You Be Looking For?
Make a plan to walk all the way around your house, performing a visual siding inspection, at least once a month. Think of it as an opportunity to get some fresh air and see how all the plants are doing! While you’re out there, keep an eye out for the following concerns.
Peeling Paint
No matter what kind of siding you have, it’s likely that there’s wood trim somewhere on the exterior of your house. If you have wood siding, it’s definitely there. Spots of peeling, blistering, or flaking paint are unpleasant to look at and also a sign that water damage has occured.
Rotting Wood
If you do see an area of peeling paint, it’s a sign that you need to probe deeper to see if rot has set in. Use a rot detection device, like an awl or screwdriver, to see if the wood has become soft. If you can push it more than a few millimeters into the wood siding or trim, it might be a good idea to have a professional siding contractor come out to assess the damage.
Dents, Dings, And Cracks
When you’re dealing with vinyl or aluminum siding, dents, dings, and cracks are a major cause for concern. Even though they may not even be visible from a few feet away, these fissures allow moisture beneath the surface, which can lead to big problems later on.
Nail Positioning
If you’ve invested in James Hardie fiber cement siding installation, you’ve made a great choice! One of the few things to watch out for are raised or sunken nails in the siding. This can indicate that something went wrong during installation, and may need to be looked at by a professional.
If you noticed any of these siding problems, contact DJK Siding and Construction in Boulder for an immediate inspection. We’re happy to provide free estimates for repairs and new siding installation.
