Your siding plays a vital role in boosting your home’s curb appeal. Even more importantly, siding protects your home from damage—and one of the most frequent reasons for damaged siding is moisture deterioration.
Discover the adverse effects moisture can have on your siding and learn how James Hardie siding is a permanent remedy for water damage.
What Happens If Water Gets Behind My Siding?
Water-damaged siding not only causes your home’s exterior to deteriorate but can cause several troublesome problems, such as:
- Rotting sheathing—Your sheathing offers an extra layer of support for your siding and boosts your home’s insulation. When water seeps through your siding, it can cause your sheathing to decay, rot, and deteriorate.
- Mold growth—Mold can grow both on your siding and underneath it, which can cause health issues like itchy eyes, sneezing, allergies, and asthma.
- Pest infestation—Many insects are attracted to damp, moldy siding. If your siding has suffered water damage, it may entice some pesky critters.
- Foundation damage—Water-damaged siding can allow moisture to seep into your foundation, causing cracks that can compromise your home’s structural integrity.
What Are the Top Ways to Identify Water-Damaged Siding?
It’s easy to see why it’s important to identify (and fix!) water-damaged siding as soon as possible to protect your home’s safety and beauty. Here are some easy ways to tell if your siding and the surfaces beneath might be suffering from moisture damage:
1. Overall Deterioration
Your boards will show wear and tear differently depending on your siding material. However, regardless of whether you have vinyl, wood, or composite siding, wavy, warped, or cracked siding panels usually indicate water damage.
2. Rusty Nails
Your contractor should have fastened your siding boards to your home’s sheathing with nails. If you notice any rusty nails, it’s usually a sign of water damage. Rusty nails usually leave rust-colored streaks down your exterior, so you should be able to spot the damage quickly.
3. Cracked Caulk
Your siding should have an even line of caulking around all the exposed seams and joints to prevent water from seeping beneath them. If your caulk is cracked, uneven, or poorly applied, you can almost be sure your siding panels and surfaces underneath, like sheathing and framing, are suffering from water damage.
4. Peeling Paint
Shabby exterior paint is a two-way problem—it signifies existing water damage and poses the opportunity for more damage. Sun, moisture, and rapidly changing temperatures can cause chipping, peeling, or fading exterior paint. However, since paint provides a protective covering for your siding, boards with peeling paint are subject to suffer even more damage when rain, hail, or snowstorms occur.
5. Exterior Mold
As we mentioned earlier, mold can be one of the adverse side effects of water-damaged siding. However, it can be one of the signs of damage too. If you notice mold, mildew, algae, or fungus growing on your siding, particularly near the seams, you can be reasonably confident that water is penetrating your exterior.
6. Water Stains
If you notice discoloration, streaks, or stains on your siding, you likely have a water leak. If leaks persist, they can cause damage to your interior walls, so it’s essential to address this issue as quickly as possible to save the rooms inside your home from costly damage.
My Siding Shows Signs of Moisture Damage. Now What?
If your siding is showing one or more of the previously mentioned signs of moisture deterioration, contact a trusted contractor, like StateLine Exteriors, to inspect your siding and identify the cause of the water damage or leak.
Your contractor can share your best options for restoring your home’s exterior. If the damage is minimal, they may be able to repair the affected boards, but if the damage is severe, your home will likely require a full siding replacement.
Eliminate Moisture Damage for Good with James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
If you need new siding, look no further than James Hardie® fiber cement siding—North America’s #1 siding material.
Fiber cement siding is made from a durable blend of cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers that is completely resistant to moisture penetration. Your new siding will be able to endure powerful snowstorms, fluctuating temperatures, extreme humidity, and other harsh weather conditions, so you’ll never have to worry about water damage again!
Upgrade Your Kansas City Home with Waterproof James Hardie Siding
Are you thinking about upgrading your water-stained, deteriorating siding with a durable, lasting alternative? If so, we can help you transform your exterior with fiber cement siding!
StateLine Exteriors is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, meaning our team is trained and qualified to install your new siding per the requirements of the James Hardie company. You can rely on your siding to be installed correctly to enjoy the benefits of a long-lasting warranty.
Learn more about the additional benefits of James Hardie siding, from attractive curb appeal to low-maintenance upkeep, to determine if this industry-leading material is perfect for your home.
