Winter is here! While these chilly winter months transform the great outdoors into a tranquil wintery wonderland, the frosty weather conditions that take place at this time of year are not so lovely to home exteriors that aren’t prepared for it. Between excess ice buildup that can block our gutter systems to frigid temperatures seeping inside damaged roofs, our home’s structural integrity is put to the test every winter, calling for all exterior features to be well maintained in preventing bigger, more costly problems.
One exterior feature that usually gets hit the hardest during the winter season is the siding of our homes. As a shield of protection from exterior elements, siding is a critical component of our homes, and siding problems during the winter is something that should not be overlooked. Whether you are unsure if you can replace siding during the winter or are curious why some homes need replacing siding in the winter, check out these most common issues related to siding that you may see this season:
Keep an Eye Out For Leaks
No matter the siding material your property has, water permeation is the biggest problem to siding this season. When ice builds up on the exterior of our homes and proceeds to melt, excessive amounts of water can seep underneath the siding that can penetrate into the interior of our homes. Taking action immediately if it seems like water is entering your home will prevent expensive structural damage to your property!
Be Aware of Rot
If your home has any type of natural wood siding, rot is more likely to take place during the winter. Between heavy snowfall to melting snow, a lot of moisture can put homes with wooden siding in jeopardy. It’s important to catch wood rot as soon as possible to avoid it from spreading to more areas of your home. If you find wood rot on the siding of your home, you will want to contact a siding repair and replacement contractor as soon as possible!
Stay Cautious of Cracks
Many homes that are equipped with vinyl siding run a higher risk of experiencing holes or cracks during this time of year. While vinyl siding has its own list of structural benefits, the winter months can be very harsh on this material, making it brittle and more susceptible to cracking. When heavy winter winds throw around wintery debris such as ice, it can cause gaping holes in the siding of your home if hit. Although vinyl siding can be tricky this time of year, consider replacing the siding in winter rather than waiting until spring to prevent more problems from arising.
Winter can be a great season when it’s not causing damages to our residential properties! From leaks to cracks and every siding problem in between, take the time to ensure the siding on your home is damage-free to better enjoy this season and the rest of the seasons that follow. For more helpful home advice and quality siding services, contact Rutter Roofing!
