Siding is beneficial for several reasons. For one, it can improve the look of your home and protect it against all sorts of things, especially water and bad weather. If you have siding, snow, wind or anything similar won’t be able to get into your home. It can also act as a barrier against dirt, insects, etc.
Siding is also crucial for the stability of your home.
However, all of this depends on how well the siding was installed. If it’s bad, then your home could suffer from all of the mentioned elements. It can be bad for your house and your wallet.
What Is The Main Function of Siding?
Siding has several functions. Here are some of them:
- Architectural functionality – When your home is framed, it should also be created with particleboard which must be protected as well since it’s not resistant to water. What is usually used in this case is tar paper or wrap which also needs to be protected. In comes the siding and various materials it’s made of. For example, aluminum or wood, as well as vinyl. Some of these are more durable, some are better looking. Their prices also vary.
- Aesthetic value – This will, of course, depend on your taste and your budget, but you can choose from a wide variety of materials and looks. Wood will create a somewhat classic look for your home. But wood needs a lot of maintenance because it needs to be stained or coated to keep it looking good. Vinyl is a popular option too as it’s low maintenance and cheap, and you can make it look good as well. Here are the most popular options this year.
Siding Can Save You Money
Siding both looks good and protects your home. However, it can also save you a lot of money. You can upgrade to a siding that’s energy-efficient and give your home a boost when it comes to saving energy and witnesses fewer temperature variations.
If your insulation is poor, you can lose a lot of heat in your home in the winter and a lot of cold in the summer.
A bad siding job is similar to leaving your window open in the winter.
Vinyl is one of the most popular options because it gives better insulation too. It also means more savings and it requires a lot less maintenance. The performance of your heating and cooling systems will improve.
Vinyl sidings are usually made of PVC and acrylics which are designed to be durable and good looking. It doesn’t rot or attract any insects. It comes in many colors or textures, so you can mimic wood or aluminum as well. You should also consider insulated vinyl which adds extra protection.
What if Your Siding is Poorly Installed?
Most homeowners don’t know enough to see when a poor job is being done on their home. So, they might overlook the fact that their contractor has done bad siding work. You also need to understand that siding will wear and tear over time – that’s normal. But if your siding is bad, then it will last a lot less and cause damage to your home.
Wood will rot or warp and vinyl will be lighter and weaker due to the sun. Both should still last for about 20 to 40 years, depending on the type and if done by a best-rated siding company. At this point, you should replace your siding.
As for poor siding, you should look for signals that it’s in bad shape – the nails can be rusty. They can end up exposed or they can disappear. If the nails are rusty, the damage is likely made by moisture. Your siding should be caulked to the point where you can barely spot the seams. If caulking isn’t done well, then the panels will shift and appear uneven, which is not a good look.
The biggest issue of bad siding work is that the moisture and water will get into your home through the gaps of the siding. It can leak through to the interior of your home even though you might not spot the damage from the outside.
Water can affect the structure and insulation as well.
The best way to ensure that your siding is installed properly is to hire good contractors. They will know how to do it well and they will make sure that elements never affect your home while making your siding last longer.