Does Your House Need Annapolis Siding Repair? These Signs Say It Does

There are many components that go into constructing a house, and it may surprise some homeowners to learn that siding is among the most critical parts. It doesn't seem like the most noticeable or exciting building material, but it really goes the distance to protect your house against factors such as harsh weather, rodent, and insect infestations, air drafts, and other problems that would make your home a lot less appealing, comfortable and livable for your household. That’s why Annapolis siding repair is so important.

Of course, your siding can't do its job to protect your home if it is old and deteriorated or it has suffered sudden impact damage from factors such as a strong hail storm or falling tree branch. When that happens, it's really important to get expert siding repair as soon as possible from a qualified handyman. Like everything else in life, home exteriors can't last forever—but with proper care and maintenance, and the occasional siding repair in Annapolis, MD, they can last a lot longer than they would otherwise.

If you've seen one (or a few) of the symptoms listed below that indicate your house needs siding repair, count on your local, experienced Annapolis handyman to get the job done the first time correctly. The service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Anne Arundel and North PG have taken care of many siding repair projects in Annapolis and other nearby areas, so we have the skill and experience to tackle a wide variety of issues ranging from smaller problems that may only need minor trim repairs to major siding damage. We are proud to deliver the highest standards of quality workmanship, along with customer service that goes above and beyond.

Are Soffits and Fascia Boards Part of a Home's Siding?

Soffits and fascia are sometimes considered to be in the same category as siding, though others prefer to file them under roofing or trim. They are located right next to each other on your roofline, but they provide different functions. Fascia boards run along the edge of your eaves, capping off the end of your roof, and they are typically where rain gutters are fastened on. Soffits cover the underside of your eaves (you'll see them if you stand next to exterior walls and look straight up), and they are covered in ventilation holes or slats. The vents are for increasing air circulation in the attic space, which is really important—your roof needs to be able to get damp and dry out on its own, and it also needs to be able to get rid of rising heat and excess humidity to avoid serious moisture damage. If your fascia boards or soffits are looking worse for wear, we can get them repaired or replaced at the same time that we handle your siding repair project.

What Are the Signs That a House Needs Siding Repair?

If a big tree branch crashes into your house or you suffer from damage because of extreme weather, you don't need us to tell you that siding repair services are in your near future. But often, the signs of damage aren't so blatant. Deterioration tends to start slow and gradually worsen over time, so it's not a big dramatic difference, and homeowners may not realize how bad it has gotten until it starts causing some symptoms that are impossible to ignore.

1. Warped, Uneven Sections

When you're looking around for signs that your house needs siding repair, it's a good idea to check it from as many angles as possible, both up close and from a distance. There might be issues that aren't immediately obvious from one perspective but stick out like a sore thumb from a different angle. That's especially true when you've got sections of siding that have suffered warping damage and are either bulging outward or cupping inward—or both, creating a wavy effect.

Warping is sometimes caused by really hot, direct sunlight that is beating down on one part of the house for an extended period of time throughout each day, but more often than not, it's due to moisture that has gotten in behind the siding and is affecting the underlayment. If you can see outward signs of water damage, there is probably much, much worse lurking underneath. In this situation, the damaged sections should be replaced entirely, but your handyman may also need to repair or replace the house wrap and other components, depending on how long it has been absorbing moisture.

2. Caulk Cracking or Shrinking

During siding installation, there are bound to be small gaps or cracks where two panels meet or when one material transitions into another. Those gaps need to be sealed up with caulk to avoid moisture penetration and insect infestations. But exterior caulk only lasts for around ten years before it needs to be replaced, so you may start noticing that there are cracks in the caulk or it's shrinking and doesn't fill the entire gap anymore. Issues with caulk can also sometimes be caused by the panels shrinking and expanding in changing weather conditions or may be related to a faulty installation. If your caulk looks like it is in bad shape or is missing altogether, that's a clear sign that you need professional siding repair.

3. Rusty or Missing Nails

Are there nail holes with no nails in them or popping nails that are missing their heads? You may also notice nails that are mostly intact but covered in rust. These are all bad signs that you need siding repair sooner rather than later. Popping, rusted nails, or nails that have fallen out altogether are usually caused by the movement of panels as they shrink or expand depending on the outdoor temperature. It can also be caused by your house's number one enemy, moisture incursion. The more the nails loosen and deteriorate, the more moisture will be able to get in behind the panels and seep into the interior of your walls. Because the panels are no longer firmly attached to the house, they could come right off and blow halfway down your street in the next strong wind storm. You may also notice stains and rust marks on your siding from deteriorated nails.

The best siding repair strategy will vary depending on the extent of the damage. Your handyman may be able to replace a couple of nails and get everything secured again, especially if you caught the problem early on. But if there's extensive damage or the material underneath the panels has been affected, they will likely need siding replacement.

4. Strange Noises

Siding is really not one of the parts of your house you expect to be making noise. It doesn't have any moving parts—or at least it shouldn't—so it can be disorienting to hear weird creaking, popping, rattling, or thumping noises that are coming from the exterior of your house. Fortunately, this is not a sign that you need an exorcist—but it's a good indication that you should consider calling for siding repair service.

We've mentioned a few times that some siding options will expand or contract in extreme temperatures. While loose siding is not a good thing, material that's fastened on too tight is almost as bad. That's why strange sounds are often caused by faulty installation where the panels were nailed down too tight and had no room to flex. As they go through their normal expansion and contraction process, there's not enough "wiggle room" to accommodate them, and that's when you wind up hearing those odd sounds. It can also be loosened panels flapping in the wind and thumping against the side of the house. Either way, your siding repair professional may be able to solve the issue by simply taking the panels down and reattaching them properly, so they have just the right amount of space to do their thing.

5. Rotten Wood

Wood rot is only a concern for timber with a moisture content of 20% or greater, which means that any wood on the exterior of your house is vulnerable to decay because it's constantly being soaked by rain and snowmelt. Rotted wood softens and crumbles apart, and you may have wood shingles falling off entirely if the problem has been allowed to worsen over time.

Wood rot eats away at certain parts of the wood fibers (different varieties affect different parts, such as the lignin or cellulose), so there's no way to really restore rotten timber to its former condition because parts of it are completely gone. That's why it's so important to keep wood dry whenever possible. Routine maintenance jobs for nearby areas, like gutter cleaning and gutter repair, are also key factors in accomplishing that. Wood rot is capable of spreading (sometimes over non-wood surfaces such as masonry), and it can affect elements such as your house framing, causing some serious structural integrity issues if it's neglected long enough.

The standard method siding repair option for wood rot is to remove any affected shingles or planks entirely and replace them with new material. It is possible to conceal a couple of minor rot patches by scraping out the rotted parts and filling the gap with epoxy wood filler, but when it comes to this type of siding repair in Annapolis, MD, wood siding replacement is almost always going to be the best course of action.

6. Peeling Paint

When you've got strips of paint dangling off your house, or there are flakes of paint all over the ground under your exterior walls, it's obviously not an attractive look, and it definitely hurts your curb appeal and property value. But it's not just an unsightly cosmetic problem—paint, and the sealant that goes over the top of it, offer additional moisture protection for the material underneath. When the paint is peeling off, that's a big visual cue that the protection is gone and your house is more susceptible to further moisture damage. Your handyman may be able to repair the siding of your home by removing the old paint and reapplying it, followed by a sealant to help block out moisture.

7. Color Fading

Most types of siding material will experience some fading over time, especially the parts that get a lot of direct sunlight. But this can be a particular problem for vinyl siding panels. The color should hold fast for as long as it's rated to last by the manufacturer, so if you notice that the color has faded significantly and it's been quite a while since it was installed, it's a sign that the material is at the end of its lifespan and will need to be replaced soon. Vinyl siding repair is an option because you could paint over the old, faded vinyl, but you'll likely experience further issues in the near future. That's why replacement is typically the most cost-effective choice in the long run.

8. Pest Infestations

Rats, mice, cockroaches, termites, ants, and other destructive pests like to work smart, not hard. That's why they spend a lot of time looking for a way to get into your cozy home and run amok. A gap, crack, or hole in your siding gives them the opportunity they're looking for, and once one of them gets in, it's only a short matter of time until you're dealing with a full-blown pest intrusion situation. We can lock out unwanted "guests" with siding repair in Annapolis, MD.

Have You Seen the Signs That You Need Siding Repair? Call Your Local Annapolis Handyman!

Regardless of whether you're in Annapolis, MD, or a nearby community such as Parole or Edgewater, you can always rely on the team of specialists at Mr. Handyman of Anne Arundel and North PG for expert workmanship and outstanding customer service. We may even be able to improve the energy efficiency of your home and save you some money on energy costs with reliable services such as Annapolis siding repair and exterior trim repair.

Callto speak with our friendly customer service representatives and book a convenient appointment for your siding project or to find out more about how our trusted handyman services can restore the aesthetic appeal of your home—and your peace of mind.