Winter Siding Checklist: How to Prevent Cracks, Warping, & Moisture Damage

Winter brings freezing temperatures, increased moisture, and overall harsh conditions, which can all have a negative impact on your home’s exterior. Of course, one of the most at-risk aspects of your home’s exterior during the wintertime is your siding, and that’s not something you can afford to simply accept as your reality considering how important your siding is both to your property’s curb appeal and its protection and performance against the elements. That’s why it’s so important to understand how you can prepare for siding to withstand the harsh winter months we deal with in the Chicagoland area. Let the professionals at Craftsmen Revival explain how to go about it.

How the Winter Months Impact Your Home’s Siding

Before you begin to prepare your siding to withstand the winter climate, it makes sense to understand how this time of the year can affect your siding. The following factors can contribute to cracking, warping, and moisture damage if your home isn’t properly prepared:

• Temperature fluctuations – The repetitive freeze-thaw cycles throughout the wintertime will cause your siding to expand and contract. If moisture gets behind your siding in any way, these freeze-thaw cycles can certainly lead to the cracking and bending of your siding, which can create gaps in between panels.
• High wind speeds & flying debris – When the winter storms are at their worst, they can feature intense winds that can pull your siding’s panels loose or send flying tree branches and/or other debris into your home’s cladding, which can cause damage on its own and potentially lead to more significant problems.
• Moisture buildup – Between snow, sleet, and ice, the winter weather brings a lot of moisture, and when it seeps into the small cracks or unsealed joints of your siding, it can create the right conditions for mold, rot, and swelling, which can be extremely problematic.

The Winter Siding Checklist You Need to Prevent Cracks, Warping, & Moisture Damage

So, what can you do before the winter gets to its harshest in order to protect your home’s siding and prevent cracks, warping, and moisture? The following steps can help you feel some more peace of mind and give you a roadmap to any repairs or replacements you need to make:

Scan Your Siding for Cracks, Gaps, & Loose Panels

Check out your siding and look for any visible cracks, missing pieces, or boards that are lifting up and away. These are all vulnerable points that can lead to problems in the winter and are worth having repaired by a team of experts.

Inspect the Caulking Around Your Windows, Doors, & Trim

The caulking and sealant around these aspects of your home’s exterior are supposed to create a watertight barrier. However, they can dry out over time, so if you’re seeing that such is the case, it’s best to have it replaced with fresh caulking before the harsh winter weather arrives.

Check for Moisture Damage

Any existing moisture damage will only get worse as the winter rolls on. Keep an eye out for discoloration, bubbling paint, warping, or soft spots in your siding and make sure you address them as soon as possible to prevent mold and rot from growing and spreading to other areas of your siding.

Inspect & Clean Your Gutters

It’s essential that you make sure your gutter system is functioning properly before snowfall comes. After all, overflowing gutters that come as a result of clogging or the formation of ice dams can cause damage to your siding as well as the rest of your home’s exterior.

Evaluate Your Landscaping & Trim Overhanging Branches

Trimming trees and shrubs around your home’s exterior ahead of the winter months is a wise choice to ensure that there aren’t any branches rubbing or scraping the protective coating off your siding. Of course, it’s also important to make sure overhanging branches aren’t at risk of dropping heavy snow or collapsing onto your home.

Reach Out for Help With Your Siding Today

If you need siding help at your home in the Chicagoland area to ensure that you’re prepared for the winter months, Craftsmen Revival is here for you. Contact us today to find out what we offer in the realm of siding work.