When your home has missing or damaged siding, moisture will often sneak between the siding and the home. This water between your siding and home is supposed to move away from the home exterior, never stay on it. Moisture will often cause mildew to form, which makes your home look older and unkempt. This can be a tough odor to get rid of, but there are some steps you can take to help with this problem with professionals.
It’s likely that most siding problems will involve some level of repair to the entire panel. Sometimes all you need is a paint scraper to get your house looking nice again. Paint can be used to repair minor damage, although you may still want to hire a professional siding contractor for minor repairs. For larger problems, such as holes or cracks, a patching compound may be needed. This is applied over the entire panel and will help fill in any gaps. Some repairing compounds contain acid, so be sure to research which products are safe to use in your area.
If you have a hole or crack, scraping off the damaged portion of the siding is the next step. Using a chisel, cut out the damaged portion and use filler rods to hold everything together. To fill in a bigger crack, use small nails, and run them through the entire panel. You should run these nails along the bottom edge first, and then go up to the top edge to fill in any big gaps.
There are many other options for repairing your siding. Even with moisture-damaged panels, most siding contractors can repair most damage without the expense of a new panel. The only exception would be if the repair included cutting into the siding to access the damage – in this case, you would need to purchase new vinyl siding. If the damage is too great for this method, it may be necessary to repair the entire piece. If the damage is minor, most companies can perform the repair for you. Many homeowners choose to replace the damaged section of siding, but it is also possible to repair damaged sections of siding on your own.
Repairing minor damage to vinyl siding includes removing the damaged panels from the home and caulking up any bare spots. For more extensive damage, such as holes or cracks, most siding contractors can repair these types of issues using high-end vinyl repair products. These products include an epoxy glue that bonds the panels together with a hardener. Epoxy glue is commonly used to repair rot and warping, and its strength and durability allows it to completely fix even the most severe siding issues.
In addition to repairing minor damages, your home may need to be painted in order to cover up cracks and other blemishes. Prior to painting, it is important to thoroughly check the siding for any loose pieces. If any are present, they must be replaced before painting. The type of paint you buy will depend on the type of damage the panels have, but some of the common options include latex, paint-safe polyester and clear epoxy.
One of the more difficult decisions to make when replacing damaged old siding is whether or not to repair all of it or cut it down to size. Replacing all of the panels will require significant amounts of labor and money. While it is certainly possible to do it yourself, it is also quite difficult and time-consuming. Many homeowners opt to cut down the size of the panels so that they are comparable in size to the surrounding house. While this may make them look better, it can also lead to moisture problems and more insect infestations.
Another option for repairing damaged old siding is to replace the entire paneling. Although this will certainly save a considerable amount of money, it will require the help of a contracting specialist and a lot of work. Some homeowners feel that since they have owned their home for a long time, the repairs should only be minor. Unfortunately, there are many times when the damage is too great and even a small repair can lead to significant structural damage that requires major repair.