Warped vinyl siding compromises your home’s protective layer and makes it vulnerable to damaging moisture penetration in your home’s walls. If left unaddressed, warped siding can create the need for major repair work, and the need to re-side your home.
Vinyl siding is made of plastic, and it can melt or bend when subjected to too much heat. Let’s take a look at what causes it to warp and what you can do about it.
Warped Vinyl Siding — Causes and Solutions
During the summer, temperatures rise and sunlight directs thermal energy at your home exterior, contributing to the problem of warped siding. Then the winter cold causes the vinyl to contract, making warping worse.
1. Improper Installation
Cause: Wondering why your siding is warped or distorted? Vinyl expands and contracts with the area’s climate and needs room to move, so if it’s nailed on too tightly, it will warp. If the siding is installed correctly by the pros (like us!), it will have ample “give” in it so it can move as the weather fluctuates. It should be able to move about half an inch side to side in order to prevent warping.
Solution: Once vinyl siding warps, it needs to be replaced. The good news? There are other siding materials that withstand even severe weather. Take a look at your options before choosing siding replacement material.
2. Your Grill Was Placed Too Close to Your Siding
Cause: You have to be careful not to place heat sources near the outside of your home, or they can cause problems with your vinyl. Many homeowners have placed their gas grills too close to their siding, causing it to melt and warp as a result. While thick vinyl siding provides insulation to the inside of your home, it isn’t indestructible.
Solution: Keep your gas grill at least three feet away from your vinyl siding.
3. UV Rays Can Cause Warping
Cause: If your neighbor invested in replacement windows with Low-E glass, their new windows keep the UV rays from entering their home. The problem? The rays are instead reflected back off the glass, and if your home is close to their home, the UV rays your neighbor’s windows diffuse can actually warp your siding! And your vinyl siding’s warranty won’t cover it, so be aware of the impact neighboring homes can have on your siding material.
Solution: The UV rays will be diffused and will be less likely to cause your siding to warp if they have a screen over them.
Elements that Help Prevent Vinyl Siding from Warping and Causing Costly Damage
Choose Lighter Colors
If you buy vinyl siding, to lower the possibility of warping, select lighter colors that reflect the sun. White, off-white, and other light shades are best. It’s ideal not to paint vinyl siding, but if you choose to, settle on a color that is lighter than your siding’s original color. If you go with a darker color, the vinyl may not be able to handle it and you may see warping as a result. Also, avoid oil-based coatings because they cause cracks when used on vinyl.
Add Trees to Your Yard
Although you don’t have control over how much sun your home gets, there is a proactive thing you can do to help. Since the amount of sun that shines on your home impacts your siding, adding trees to your yard can help bring some welcomed shade and decrease temperatures, lowering the possibility of warped vinyl.
Do Regular Inspections
You should do inspections twice a year and after severe storms. Walk around your home and look for bulges, warping, cracks, or missing siding panels. If you see any of these problems, contact a reliable siding contractor.
Find a Reputable Contractor
When you are ready to re-side your home, find a contractor (like us at Porter Family Contracting) with a dependable track record who will install your siding with precision. How your siding is installed has everything to do with the performance it delivers over its lifetime.
Before hiring a siding contractor, take time to read their online reviews, check out their rating with the Better Business Bureau, look them up on Angi, and if possible go see some of their recent work. Don’t settle for subpar installation or materials. Get the most out of your investment by doing some research before deciding on who you will entrust with your biggest investment’s protective layer.
Re-side Your Home with Confidence
Looking for a solid solution to your unsightly warped vinyl siding? If your siding is warped, damaged, or worn out, it’s time to replace it with a durable material.
We install Monogram vinyl siding from CertainTeed, the thickest vinyl siding product on the market. Its heavy-duty composition withstands high winds, rain, and snowstorms. And it has a class-A fire rating, giving you peace of mind about your home’s protective layer.
Additionally, we offer industry-leading James Hardie fiber cement siding, which is engineered to stand up to your climate and delivers uncompromising performance and lasting curb appeal. If summers are particularly hot and you want assurance that your siding won’t warp, Hardie siding is a stellar option to consider.
Transform Your Home with Reliable Siding
Get the durable protection your home needs with new siding. You’ll boost your home’s curb appeal while safeguarding it from the elements.
At Porter Family Contracting, we rely on proven siding installation techniques and products that last to offer Pennsylvania homeowners like you an exterior that makes you proud. You’ll love using our 3D design tool to get a sneak peek at which siding and trim combinations will look best on your home.
Learn more about our top-notch siding installation services.
