This year is an El Niño year, which means we’re actually seeing some rain here in Central Kansas! For the past couple years, this drought has probably kept you from thinking about the ability of your exterior siding to protect your home from water damage. So now that it’s raining, are you concerned? Don’t worry! We’ll show you how to troubleshoot your leaky exterior siding problems.
How to determine if your siding is leaking
If you’ve discovered staining on your walls or ceilings there’s definitely something leaking! If there are bathroom or kitchen pipes near or around those walls, they could be the source, but if not, you’re probably dealing with an exterior issue. Check around the damaged areas to determine if a nearby window or door could be the source. Remember an upstairs window could be causing ceiling damage on the floor below. Check window and door frames for water damage or rotting. Head outside and take a look at the exterior of the surrounding area, looking for large gaps or breaks in the exterior siding.
What is the cause of the leakage?
Depending on the type of siding on your home, there can be different causes to leaky exterior siding. Vinyl siding leaks often occur around windows, doors or rooflines where caulking is old or nonexistent. Water can often creep behind the siding and into the inside of your house if there are large gaps on the exterior in these places. Getting a professional inspection is the best idea if you’re seeing any water damage on the inside of your home.
Fixing the leak
Often times fixing leaky siding doesn’t take more than a little caulking in the right places. With a professional inspection and diagnosis, we’ll be able to determine the scope of your problem. If the siding is old and heavily damaged, a larger investment will be required to fix the problem.
If you are experiencing some water damage in your home, be sure to contact Geisler Roofing for an inspection and estimate. We want to get your siding back in tip top shape for that rain and snow we’re hoping to get this winter.