Vinyl Siding: Six Problems Your Home Inspector Is Trained to Identify
Here are six common areas of concern that may be observed by your home inspector, courtesy of your friends at A-Pro Olympia Inspectors:
Loose Panels: One of the more obvious signs of compromised vinyl siding, panels that have pulled away from a house may be completely ripped off in a windstorm.
Panel Buckling and Warping: Properly installed vinyl siding will “hang” from fasteners. When nailed correctly, panels can easily move from side to side about ¼ to ½ inch. This allows for thermal expansion and contraction. When nails are fully driven against the hem, movement is impossible, causing the restricted panels to buckle over time. This is a condition your home inspector will note in the report.
Lap Joint Bulging: Your home inspector will observe siding bulges in cases where a ½-inch gap has not been provided between the boards’ nailing strips.
J-Channel Issues: Around windows, doors, dryer vents, and other exterior features, J-channel trim abuts siding courses, providing water protection and expansion capabilities. Due to improper cutting and installation of the J-channel, water intrusion and subsequent wood rot – particularly on the sides of windows, corners, and above windows and doors – can result. This issue will be recorded by the home inspector.
Cracks and Breakage: This is more commonly reported by a home inspector when checking less durable, older vinyl siding products that are more prone to impact damage, such as stones kicked up by a lawn mower.
Presence of Exterior Sheathing: A home inspector will check to see if building paper or housewrap is installed beneath siding as protection against water damage.
A-Pro Olympia Inspectors Maintenance Tip: Tree limbs and shrubbery too close to a home can damage vinyl siding. Keep your greenery neat and tidy to protect your investment from punctures and larger holes.
The above is only a sampling of vinyl siding assessments performed by a home inspector. A thorough vinyl siding evaluation is included in an A-Pro 500-point home inspection. To hire certified local A-Pro Olympia inspectors, visit https://www.homeinspectionolympia.com/ or call 360-489-6100.