7 Common Siding Problems and How to Fix Them

Siding is one of your exterior’s most essential features. It safeguards your home from moisture damage, outdoor temperatures, and pests. Time, the weather, and harsh storms can cause your siding to deteriorate or become damaged. If overlooked, minor siding issues can become major ones, costing you time and money to resolve. 

Let’s take a look at the most common siding issues and how to fix them. 

Common Siding Problems

1. Moisture Penetration

Water—your exterior’s enemy—may seep in under your siding, causing rot, mold, and deterioration. Water penetration can eventually lead to structural issues if left unaddressed. If you spot wood rot, water stains, peeling paint, or mold, you likely have moisture intrusion due to compromised siding.

How to fix it: Locate and address the source of water infiltration. Remove all rotten wood or damaged siding material. Check your gutters to ensure they are channeling water away from your home. If they are clogged, clean them well and add gutter guards to prevent debris buildup. 

2. Insect Infestation

Are there small holes in your siding? Do you see wood shavings around your foundation? If termites, carpenter ants, or other critters make their way into your siding, they can create significant problems for your home on multiple levels. They invade your home looking for food and a place to live. They compromise your exterior’s integrity by making it vulnerable to more pest invasion and moisture intrusion. 

How to fix it: It’s vital to address insect infestation promptly so the problem doesn’t get worse. Contact a pest control company and have your home treated for insects. Next, hire a siding contractor to evaluate your siding. 

3. Cracks and Gaps in Your Siding

Severe weather can cause siding to crack or dent. Hail, wind-blown debris, and even stray rocks flung by your lawnmower can cause damage to your siding. Once gaps form, water will invade and create more damage to your home. Have you noticed spaces between your siding planks? This should be addressed promptly to keep problems from cascading and costing you more time and money in the long run to resolve. 

How to fix it: If your siding is significantly damaged with cracks and gaps in it, contact a reputable local contractor for an evaluation. You may need replacement siding. 

4. Faded Siding

Even the best paint eventually fades when exposed repeatedly to the harsh UV rays of the sun. Over time, your siding may fade unevenly—diminishing curb appeal significantly, and decreasing your property value as a result. 

Does your exterior have patches of siding that stand out? Do some panels look worn out due to discoloration? Have you noticed places your exterior paint is chipped or peeling? It’s important to address this problem so your siding’s protective layer of paint doesn’t create vulnerabilities that compromise it. 

How to fix it: Paint your siding as needed depending on its material. Wood needs to be painted more frequently than fiber cement. Keep siding well sealed to prevent damage. Invest in high-quality, fade-resistant exterior paint to ensure it lasts. When you need to replace it, upgrade to resilient Hardie siding to ensure you get the durable factory baked-on color they offer. It is fade resistant and comes with a 15-year warranty against flaking and chipping. 

5. Missing Panels

Are boards hanging from your home in random places? Have some of the nails that secure your panels popped out of their position? Is the caulking that surrounds your siding and trim deteriorating? If siding wasn’t installed properly, it may loosen or break off when storms pass through the area. This puts your exterior at risk of water infiltration and pest intrusion. 

How to fix it: Contact a trusted siding contractor and have your exterior assessed for damage. Find out if it is best to replace the missing boards or if you need a full siding replacement. 

6. Warped Siding 

Do some of your panels look wavy? Do you have missing nails that once held your siding in place? Is there obvious weather damage to your siding? The Kansas City area temperatures can shift suddenly, and humidity can invade, causing damage to your siding. Wood and vinyl siding can become warped, and stucco can absorb moisture, causing it to deteriorate. 

How to fix it: Replace all damaged boards, and if there are several, consider a full siding replacement to keep this situation from occurring again. Find a reputable contractor with a track record of success in siding installation, and have them evaluate your exterior and replace siding if necessary. Consider Hardie siding and trim products for their weather resistance and longevity. It lasts up to 50 years when installed properly and maintained over its lifespan. 

7. Poor Installation 

The quality of your siding installation will depend on the experience and training of the siding professionals who installed it. If an inexperienced contractor who wasn’t licensed installed your current siding, it can lead to a host of problems for you over time. 

How to fix it: When you have your siding replaced, take time to carefully vet the contractor you hire. Ask to see proof of their license and insurance. Inquire about recent siding installation projects they completed, and go see them! Look at online reviews and BBB ratings. 

Get Gorgeous New Siding for Your Home—Installed to Perfection

When siding fails, your home’s protective layer is compromised, making it vulnerable to costly damage. At Safe Harbor Exteriors, we install durable Hardie siding which resists hail, snow, UV rays, fire, and pest damage, making Hardie the most popular fiber cement product in America. 

As a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, we follow their strict guidelines on siding installation so you get the high performance you deserve, and to ensure the warranty is honored in the unlikely event you need to use it. Learn more about how our siding replacement services can protect your home from the elements while boosting its value and beauty.