Common Causes of Buckling, Warping, or Cracked Siding

Your siding is more than just a decorative feature—it’s your home’s first line of defense against the elements. However, when siding begins to buckle, warp, or crack, it can compromise both your home’s appearance and its structural integrity. These issues often stem from factors like improper installation, material, age, or exposure to extreme weather. 

Left unaddressed, damaged siding can lead to costly repairs and even threaten your home’s safety. Understanding the causes of these problems is the first step toward preventing them and ensuring your home and siding remain protected for years to come.

What Causes Siding to Buckle, Warp, or Crack?

1. Damaging water infiltration

If your home exterior is not waterproof, wind-driven rain and heavy snow can seep under your siding boards, causing your home’s structure and siding to deteriorate. When water infiltrates your home exterior, it causes warping. Unless you spot this issue and attend to it quickly, your exterior’s components may start to mold and eventually rot. Moisture invades siding when it is cracked, compromised due to pest infestation, or when flashing around windows and doors contain gaps. 

The solution – Don’t risk the costly problems water can do when it invades your home’s protective layer. Wood siding is more susceptible to warping from moisture issues. Plan to re-side your exterior with moisture-resistant siding material such as James Hardie fiber cement. 

2. Incorrect siding installation

If siding is installed inaccurately, problems will occur over time. Siding hangs in a way that it can easily expand and contract when temperatures fluctuate. Vinyl siding should be installed loosely enough to allow for thermal expansion and contraction. If it is nailed too tightly, nails will pop, bulges will form, and warping or buckling may occur. 

The solution – Find a local siding contractor you can trust with your siding replacement project. Ask for a few references of recent siding installations they have completed so you can see their work up close before hiring them. Check online reviews, Angi, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to verify they are a company you should consider hiring. 

3. Old siding 

If your siding is approaching the end of its lifespan, cracks may form in it. If you spot irregularities to your exterior cladding—like cracks—have your siding inspected and plan for its replacement. Don’t risk further damage by procrastinating the addressing of cracks, particularly if your siding is old. 

The solution – Learn about a variety of siding materials so you can make an informed decision about which will suit your long-term needs best. Find a contractor who you can trust to install it with precision. 

4. Temperature extremes

Some siding is sensitive to temperature changes. When weather becomes extremely hot or cold, it causes vinyl siding to warp, crack, or buckle. 

The solution – Upgrade your exterior with durable new siding installed by a reputable contractor. Take time to vet the top local contractor in your area to ensure your siding will be installed correctly. Who installs your siding (and how attentive they are to details!) is just as important as the material you choose to have installed. 

5. Heat exposure

When a grill is located in proximity to vinyl siding, the heat can cause your exterior cladding to melt. And amazingly, even the sun’s reflection off a neighbor’s windows can cause your vinyl siding to warp. This vulnerability makes way for a compromised exterior that can open the door to costly damage due to moisture intrusion. 

The solution – If your siding has suffered heat-related harm, repair the damaged boards promptly. Next, relocate the heat source away from your home exterior so it doesn’t happen again. If your neighbor’s windows are the culprit, ask if they can install screens or plant shrubs to prevent the problem’s reoccurrence. 

6. Pest infestation 

When pests like termites silently eat your home’s structure, it can cause your siding to warp and buckle. It’s vital to look carefully at the cause of your exterior’s issues. If your house is infested with insects, its compromised protective layer can open the door to major damage. The faster you find and address insect infestation, the better. 

The solution – Get to the bottom of pest issues by calling an exterminator to eliminate them from your home. Next, replace your siding with pest-resistant material like fiber cement so you don’t incur this costly hassle again! 

7. Structural issues

Warped siding may be a signal you have structural issues with your house. When a home settles, older homes may experience building movement, which may cause siding to buckle or bulge. 

The solution – Attend to your house’s structural issues and replace siding with a moisture-resistant material such as Hardie siding and trim. 

Hardie Siding—The Best Long-Term Solution for Your Siding Issues 

Avoid Siding Problems Like Buckling, Warping, and Cracking 

If you’re tired of the hassles your current siding has caused, join over 10,000,000 homeowners across America in covering your home with durable Hardie siding and trim. Hardie’s climate-specific, weather-resistant makeup means you will enjoy superior protection specifically for your area of the country. 

Cover Your Home in Durable New Siding Installed by Our Experienced Team

No one wants to deal with a high-maintenance home. That’s why at Safe Harbor Exteriors, we install James Hardie fiber cement siding which resists hail, snowstorms, UV rays, fire, pests, and harsh weather. Its outstanding 30-year, non-prorated transferable warranty gives homeowners peace of mind. These are only a few of the reasons Hardie is the most popular fiber cement siding in America. Learn more about how our James Hardie Siding services can boost your home’s protection from the elements while enhancing its beauty.