Worried about your siding drying out? Here are the facts about dried siding, associated dangers and if your siding may be at risk.
Wood Siding and Drying Out
Not all siding materials are subject to drying out over time. In fact, most materials on the market, like vinyl, aluminum and fiber cement, don’t really have problems with drying out. However, you do see dried siding when it comes to older wood siding materials, and when dealing with older paint jobs on a variety of different siding types. Dried-out wood siding, in particular, can be a danger because this weakens the siding and makes it easier for damage and leaks to occur.
Signs of Dried-Out Siding
How can you tell if your siding is an issue? If you live in a more arid climate or have dry, hot summers, then look for signs like these:
- Warping boards: Warping is a tricky issue, because it can be caused by heat and even moisture in addition to dried-out siding. But if you have wood siding, over the first few years the water within the wood fibers – especially in improperly treated materials – can evaporate. When this happens, it can twist and dry out siding materials, sometimes enough to cause visible warp or less visible, and more troubling, leaks through the siding.
- Peeling paint: As siding dries out, paint damage becomes more common and you will often see peeling paint. Not that this only affects coats of paint, but materials that are infused with dyes.
- Cracked siding: Too much heat and too little moisture will also crack wood materials over time. This is especially common on old wood siding past its expiration date.
- Worn siding in particular sections: Drying is not necessarily uniform. Areas that get a lot of sunlight will often see more drying problems than other siding sections. If you notice problems focused on the parts of your wood siding that face the elements, it could be a drying issue.
Dried Siding vs. Dry Rot
When homeowners hear about dried siding they often start worrying about dry rot. However, these are too separate issues. Dry rot is actually a type of fungus that attacks and destroys wood. It actually requires a certain amount of moisture to survive. However, dry and cracked siding could provide an entry point for this damaging fungus, so it is not uncommon to see dried siding suffering from dry rot – even though they are two different problems.
Repairing Dried Siding
Replacement is the only way to deal with siding that has dried out. Siding professionals should also recommend a replacement material if necessary. If wood siding dries out easily in your area, then switching to vinyl or fiber cement could solve your problem. If you need wood siding for historical purpose or just like the way it looks, then choose a version that is weatherproofed from a high-quality source for repairs.
For any of your home siding needs, contact the professionals at Findlay. We have been in the siding business for years and can get your home back to looking like-new again.
