Winter is part of life in Minnesota. But you don’t want that beautiful time of year to damage your siding. Prevent winter siding damage by taking a couple of key steps. Whether you have metal siding, vinyl siding, or wood siding, these tips can help make sure your home isn’t damaged this winter.
If you do have any problems, call BD Exteriors right away!
Inspecting your siding for damage is a bit easier than inspecting your roof. But, if you don’t know what to look for, you can miss it. Don’t be afraid to call a professional if you need some backup.
With wood siding, it’s important to look for peeling paint first. This will be the most common problem to look for. But even if you don’t see any peeling paint, it’s a good idea to go around to those problem areas where maybe water accumulates near a wall, and push on them with your hand or finger. If it feels spongy or you push right through, there’s mold or rot present. It may also affect your wall sheathing too.
Vinyl siding is mostly affected by damage from hail, golf balls, or heat from grills. Heat can start to deform vinyl siding over time, so that’s something to watch out for as well.
If you find a problem you cannot fix yourself, calling a professional is well worth it.
The most common winter hazard for siding is trees.
Tree branches can push and scrape on siding, including puncturing it if the wind blows hard enough and the siding is weakened. Make sure you trim trees properly or remove them completely if they’ll be a hazard to your home year after year.
Trees can be hard on your gutters too, dropping snow as well as leaves and twigs, clogging up your gutter system and possibly leading to ice dams, which can send water down your walls.
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