7 Signs You Need House Siding Repair or Replacement in Flower Mound, TX

All modern buildings (and some ancient ones too, for that matter) feature an exterior cladding that helps to protect the structure from serious problems caused by rough weather, pest infestations, wildlife attacks, excessive moisture, and more. Since it takes up a huge amount of visual space on the exterior of your home, it's also a key factor in the style and curb appeal of your house. By getting Flower Mound house siding repair services when you see warning signs, you’ll ensure that your level of exterior protection and your curb appeal is always at their peak.

When your siding is in bad shape, it doesn't just look unattractive and lower your property value. It could also lead to severe damage that affects the entire house and costs you an arm and a leg in increased utility bills by making your home less energy efficient. But how do you know when you need Flower Mound house siding repair? Sometimes it's pretty obvious, but there are warning signs that many homeowners aren't aware of.

This guide explains some of the major symptoms of siding damage that indicate you shouldn't wait another season to get house siding repair service from your local Flower Mound handyman. The skilled team of service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Denton are siding experts who have dealt with numerous cladding issues and know exactly what to do to get your house back in perfect condition.

How Does Siding Damage Increase My Energy Costs?

You might not be that worried about how your siding looks, but most homeowners in Flower Mound don't want to pay any more than necessary on their monthly energy bills. When your siding has suffered damage such as holes, cracks, gaps, missing sections, and so on, it lets the heat from your furnace escape your house in the winter and makes it a lot easier for the sun to overheat your house during summer. That means your HVAC system needs to operate for longer and longer periods of time in order to compensate for that energy loss.

Even in a perfectly sealed home with optimal energy efficiency, an HVAC system needs to use a huge amount of fuel to keep your house at the temperature you've set on your thermostat. So in a house with compromised siding, that extra operation time really adds up to a significantly higher charge on your monthly bills—and it's only going to keep getting worse until you get Flower Mound house siding repair.

How to Tell If You Need Flower Mound House Siding Repair

If a big chunk of siding falls off the side of your house, well, it's pretty clear that you need Flower Mound house siding repair. But sometimes the signs of damage are a lot less obvious, or may not seem connected to your cladding at all if you do notice them.

By being aware of the potential signs of trouble, you can catch issues early on and call your handyman for repairs before the damage worsens and spreads to other parts of your home. When you're examining your home for the following symptoms, try to look at as much of your cladding as possible, up close and from a distance, and from multiple angles.

1. Holes, Cracks, and Gaps

This is one of the worst cladding problems because, as we mentioned above, it has a big impact on your HVAC system's energy usage and could increase your energy costs considerably. But it also leads to other major issues such as pest infestations and moisture incursion.

Pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches, termites, carpenter ants, and wasps spend a lot of time looking for ways to get inside your house, and a crack or missing piece of siding affords them the perfect opportunity. Once one of them finds a way in, dozens of their little pals will soon follow.

Rodent and insect infestations make your home a lot less comfortable and sanitary, and they might also be incredibly destructive to the overall structure of the building. If there are a few small cracks, gaps, or holes, your experience with Flower Mound house siding repair may just involve sealing them up with some caulk. But if the damage is serious or widespread, replacement is likely the best option.

2. Faded Colors

Vinyl siding is popular for good reason; it's attractive, durable, water-resistant, and comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, so it's easy to find an option that matches your personal tastes. It does have a weakness though—it's prone to fading over time on the parts of a home that are frequently exposed to direct sunlight. That being said, the color should hold true for the period of time the manufacturer has rated it to last.

If you are noticing signs of color fading on your vinyl cladding, that is a clear sign that it is nearing the end of its lifespan and will begin to show more signs of trouble as it ages. In this case, replacement makes the most sense. Even if you slap a coat of paint on top of that old vinyl, it will still deteriorate at a more accelerated rate.

3. Warping and Bulging

Remember how we mentioned that you should try to examine your cladding from as many angles as possible? While that's not necessary to notice a great big hole or stain on the side of your house, sometimes it's the only way to spot parts of siding on Flower Mound homes that are bulging outward, cupping inward, or warped in some other way.

It might look pretty normal from one angle but when you look at it from another position, it's clear that something is not right. Bulging and cupping indicate that there's a problem lurking underneath—and that problem is usually excess moisture. That moisture could get inside the walls and cause the frame of your house to rot, creating structural stability issues. Your handyman will need to replace the affected sections and may need to repair the moisture barrier underneath as well.

4. Rotting Wood

Wooden siding has a lot of positives—it's classic, packed full of natural charm, and has low thermal conductivity, which means it can be great for energy efficiency. But any wood that is exposed to the elements outdoors is susceptible to rotting. Wood rot decay only occurs in damp timber, which is why wood that remains dry can stay solid for hundreds of years while wood that is often soaked with rain is likely to develop rotten patches.

It's worth noting that you can significantly reduce moisture damage, including wood rot, by keeping your gutters clean. When your rain gutters are overflowing with dead leaves, animal nests, dirt, and other debris, all the water that falls on your roof spills over the edge of the gutter and leads to major moisture damage problems on your siding, window frames, door jambs, and even your house foundation.

The telltale signs of wood rot are:

• Soft spots that are spongy, stringy, or webbed with cracks
• Discoloration that appears lighter or darker than surrounding areas or has a yellow, white, or light purplish hue
• Wood breaking into cube-shaped chunks or crumbling into sawdust

If you notice any of the above on your cladding, our team of experienced professionals can provide house siding repair or replacement services that will leave your house looking great and ensure it’s protected against moisture incursion.

5. Rust or Gutter Stains

Does your siding have big black, grey, or rust-colored streaks running vertically down your exterior walls? Those are sometimes called gutter stripes or stains because they are typically caused by broken, overflowing gutters. This is a clear sign that your gutters need attention, but you may need house siding repair as well.

Your handyman can remove the stains with a professional pressure washing service. Pressure washing machines are far more effective and efficient than other cleaning methods, and use pressures that range from 750 to 3,000 psi (pound-force per square inch) to blast away grime and stains that other cleaning methods can't budge.

6. Interior Water Damage

If you notice signs of moisture damage inside your house, the damaged siding could be to blame. Holes and cracks, as well as poorly sealed gaps between siding and other materials, can let excess water into your house. When it seeps through the walls, it can cause some very big problems for your home.

Here are some of the potential interior symptoms of a building that needs house siding repair in Flower Mound:

• Brownish water stains on the wall or ceiling
• Drywall is softened or crumbling apart
• Drywall has loose joint tape and popping screws or nails
• Excess condensation on interior window panes
• Leaking water coming from window frames, door jambs, and even electrical outlets or light switches
• You can feel drafts of cold air coming from the walls

These problems will only worsen over time and are seriously compromising the energy efficiency of your home. They need to be dealt with immediately by a professional before your house suffers any further damage.

8. Too Much Maintenance

Some types of siding simply require more maintenance than others. You may be just fine with refinishing your cladding every couple of years in exchange for natural beauty and a uniquely attractive appearance. But, if you find that you don't have the time or energy to keep up with maintenance—or you just don't want to do it—that's understandable. You can free up your time and still rest assured that your cladding is in good shape by choosing an affordable, virtually-maintenance free option such as premium vinyl siding panels.

Are Fascia Boards and Soffits Considered to Be Siding?

Soffits and fascia boards, which are parts of your roofline, are sometimes included in the same category as siding. They are made of similar materials and perform similar functions, though soffits in particular do have some additional features.

Fascia boards run along the edge of your roof eaves, parallel to the exterior wall, and are usually where gutters are attached. Soffits cover the underside of the roof eaves and are ventilated with slats or holes to accommodate airflow in and out of the attic. That air movement allows excess humidity and rising heat to vent out of the attic space, helping to keep your house cooler in the summer and avoiding moisture issues like wood rot in the supporting roof beams or floor joists. They were traditionally made of aluminum or wood, but these days more builders and homeowners are installing a vinyl option because it's a durable choice that is easy to maintain.

Can House Siding Repair or Replacement Improve Property Value?

Absolutely! If you are thinking of selling your Flower Mound home in the near future and looking for ways to raise the property value, house siding repair can be very helpful for the selling process. Cladding is one of the first things a prospective home buyer or realtor sees. When it's in excellent shape and looking good, it gives them peace of mind that the house has been well-cared for and there aren't any major problems lurking beneath the surface.

On the other hand, damaged, faded, cracked siding is a huge red flag that will turn potential buyers off before they even get through the door. Much like other home improvement projects, such as bathroom remodeling, you can expect to get great returns on investment when you get professional service for house siding repair or replacement.

Your Local Handyman Experts Can Take Care of Flower Mound House Siding Repair!

Whether you are in Flower Mound or a community in the surrounding area, such as Lewisville or Denton, you can get the house siding repair service you need from the team of trustworthy professionals at Mr. Handyman of Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Denton.

We offer dozens of reliable handyman services for both residential and commercial properties. Whether you just want to boost your curb appeal or you need professional storm damage restoration for your exterior walls, door, and windows, we’re here to help!

Pick up the phone and give us a call today to put in a service request for a convenient appointment time, or to chat with our friendly customer service representatives about why we are considered Flower Mound's top choice for house siding repair and other services that improve outdoor living.