5 Causes of Bulging, Buckling, or Rippled Vinyl Siding

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No homeowner wants to see damage to the exterior of their house. However, when you notice wavy, buckling, or bulging siding, it’s important to call an experienced Grand Rapids siding repair company as soon as possible. They can help you minimize the damage and offer advice on subsequent repairs. Keep reading to learn about the 5 causes of damaged siding.

1. Nearby Grill or Other Heat Source

Grilling is a summer tradition. However, did you know that your summer tradition could be causing the siding on your home to warp? The heat emanating from the grill causes the siding material to melt, which means that when it’s time to store your grill in your garage, you could discover vinyl siding damage. Melted vinyl siding can also be caused by the UV rays reflecting off your neighbor’s high efficiency windows, though this is less common.

2. Water Damage

It’s important for homeowners to keep tabs on their home’s exterior siding throughout the year. Gray, white, or black spots on your siding are a sign of mold and mildew and should be taken care of right away. Be sure to check with a professional vinyl siding company to see if they offer power washing services to blast away mold and mildew.

3. Building Movement

It’s unusual for a house to move slightly, but not impossible. Sometimes old buildings can settle over the years and create slight shifts in the building’s structure. When this happens, the siding could buckle or bulge. If you live in an older home, we recommend you reach out to a structural engineer if you suspect structural damage.

4. Insect Damage

While rare, it’s possible that your vinyl siding could be infested with insects. One of the most common culprits is termites. To check for termite damage, take a screwdriver and gently push the tip against your vinyl siding. If the screwdriver tip easily pushes into the siding material, you most likely have an insect problem. If you notice insect damaged siding, be sure to call a pest control specialist and a professional home siding repair contractor as soon as possible.

5. Poor Siding Installation

It’s important you call a licensed siding installation contractor when it’s time to replace your home’s vinyl siding. If the siding is nailed too tightly or at an angle, the siding will start to show signs of damage. You should be able to slide the siding panels horizontally about half an inch or more. If you are unable to do so, this is a sign that the contractor nailed the siding to the fasteners too tightly.

When your siding isn’t able to move, it can cause the material to warp or even buckle. The nails may also pop to create bulges in your exterior vinyl siding. If you suspect that your siding was poorly installed, you’ll need to call an experienced siding repair contractor to resolve the issue.

If you are interested in our siding repair and installation services, please feel free to give us a call at (616) 785-8080. The Grand Rapids siding contractors at Weatherhead & Sons work hard to provide excellent customer service and quality results.