Your shelter has a soul that needs to be protected from external damage! Siding, also known as wall cladding, acts as a protective layer when attached to the exterior side of the walls of any building. It acts as the primary line of defense against harsh climatic conditions, such as hail, snow, sun, and run, to name a few. It also adds to the aesthetics of the building as it’s found in a wide range of materials. These materials can be either artificial or natural, coming with each set of pros and cons. It is imperative to side the internally framed walls with wood or steel I-beams. Did you know that siding and siding repair are two games of the same ballpark mastered by many companies, like Advance Roofing LLC? Read ahead to know more!
But, before discussing siding repair, let’s understand the types of siding.
There are various methods of joinery that are explicitly designed to restrict damage during siding. The various types of materials used for siding are stated as follows-
Wood siding- is highly versatile and, hence, can be used in any infrastructure. The significant advantage of wooden siding is that it possesses diverse set of color palette.
Stone siding- consists of shingles made of slate that are simple but are also found to be very decorative on various buildings.
Vinyl siding- wooden clapboards are usually imitated by using vinyl siding. Its production rate is almost twice that of wooden clapboard and is highly resistant to damage and wearing off.
Insulated siding- is the improved version of vinyl siding with a customized fit using expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) fused at the back of the siding.
Discovering the need
Siding repair tends to wear off due to regular wear and tear and extreme climatic conditions. These repairs are necessarily not supposed to be expensive and are low maintenance. But the real question is, when will you realize your siding needs repair?
Identify its main symptoms-
The smallest of holes on your siding can invite many unwanted guests! Cracks, dents, and crevices attract insects as they can breed effectively.
Water seepage through dents in the siding can lead to the growth of molds.
If the wood under the layer of siding begins to rot, that calls for higher repair costs.
Methods to repair minor siding damage
Fixing holes-
Fixing holes on siding is highly DIY and requires a few steps. These steps are as follows-
Cleaning is a must!
It is imperative to clean the area so the surface can be dust-free. This will help in better sticking of the repair on the surface. A smooth surface sponge or cloth can be used with water and soap to clean the spot to be repaired.
Prepare your caulk gun to shoot!
The instructions to load a caulk gun are generally mentioned on its tube. Firstly, you should cut off the tip, make a hole with a long nail, pull the handle, and fill the tube.
Fix the hole!
Place the caulk gun’s tip in the hole and fill it up. Ensure that you overfill it a bit, such that it creates a water and airtight seal. Let it dry for the next 24 hours of application.
Fixing a damaged patch-
Cleaning is a must!
Similar to the first step of fixing a hole in the siding, it is necessary to clean the area to fix a damaged patch, too.
Cut the patch!
Cut the appropriate patch size that can cover the damaged part of your siding. Make sure you cut it in such a way that it can fit easily on the wall.
Patch your damage!
Apply a minute caulk at the back of your patch and around the edges of the damaged area. Seal it tightly after placing the same.
Drying is a must!
Let the patched surface dry for 24 hours, and scrape out the extra caulk off the surface upon drying.
Conclusion
With various contractors available in the market, getting the exact people to ensure an effective siding repair can be tricky. Now that you have learned to spot the signs, and understood the process; find the right professionals to gain peace of mind. Enhance your property’s durability, functionality, and visual appeal.