What Can Winter Weather Do to My Home’s Siding?

Winter weather may be gorgeous at times, but it can cause damage that is less than attractive. The Dayton area’s snow and occasional freezing rain and ice can cause some serious harm to siding. With its 24/7 exposure to the elements, siding can take a beating each winter—and some materials (like vinyl and wood) get impacted more dramatically than others.

Let’s dive into the ways harsh winter weather can affect your siding, how to spot winter storm damage, and what to do about it.

How Winter Weather Impacts Your Siding

Vinyl Siding Tends to Crack

While vinyl siding is strong, it’s not immune to the impact of winter weather. When temperatures plummet, vinyl can get stiff and brittle, setting the stage for cracks and chips in your siding panels. Fluctuations in temperatures are also tough on vinyl siding. As it expands and contracts, it may become damaged. At first, problems may be hard to spot, but over time they worsen if left unaddressed.

Wood Siding Often Experiences Moisture Damage

Homes covered in wood siding may experience extensive harm from winter weather. Why? Because wood is susceptible to moisture intrusion. When snow melts on wood siding, its protective layer can wear off and expose your panels to water. The nature of wood’s makeup acts as a sponge, and when water invades, rot starts to develop. If left unnoticed, wood will deteriorate, and your home could suffer costly structural problems.

Fiber Cement Siding Stands Up to the Weather

Durable fiber cement siding typically breezes through winter weather with ease and without damage. Its resilient makeup safeguards your home from snow, ice, high winds, and freezing rain. In fact, James Hardie—the leading brand of fiber cement—designed their siding specifically to stand up to the cold, snow, and ice we experience in the Dayton area. Its surface was engineered for higher performance, giving it superior paint adhesion and moisture resistance. A drip edge was added to provide improved water management. When you choose Hardie siding, you don’t just get siding that performs well each winter—you get an exterior engineered for it!

How to Spot Winter Storm Damage on Your Exterior

Loose Siding

When winter storms hit, siding may loosen, particularly if it is made of vinyl. Insulation may become exposed, leading to chilly temperatures inside your home and increasing your energy use. Water damage naturally follows this scenario, paving the way for a host of other problems if you don’t step in and have your siding repaired quickly.

Holes and Dents in Siding

If strong winds and heavy storms cause debris to get flung into your siding, holes and dents may occur—particularly on vinyl siding. Holes give cold air easy access to your home interior, driving up your heating bill, and making your interior less than comfortable. If you see a hole or deep dent in your siding, have it repaired promptly to avoid further damage.

Warped Siding

Vinyl and wood siding are prone to warping when they come into contact with chilly winter air and moisture. Once planks warp, moisture seeps into gaps and damages your home’s internal structure. It’s not always easy to spot this type of trouble when it begins, and if you see it too late, your home could already be significantly harmed.

Leaky Seals

When winter wind, ice, and freezing temperatures pound your home, seals and caulking between your siding panels and your exterior walls may loosen, crack, or even break. This opens the door to water damage, leading to rot, unhealthy mold, and further problems.

Peeling Paint

Winter weather can take a toll on your siding’s outer layer—its paint. It may look like no big deal to see paint peeling off your siding, but it is something you need to address to keep moisture from invading your siding planks.

Water Damage

When chilly weather impacts your siding by penetrating it with moisture, damage is sure to follow. Here are some ways water wreaks havoc on siding:

• Mold develops – When water sits inside your siding, it can create unhealthy mold growth. Mold can negatively impact your health in the area of respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and more.
• Rot – Rot is the decay that occurs when moisture invades wood and other organic materials. It weakens the structure of your house and makes it more susceptible to damage from precipitation in the future.
• Structural damage – Moisture intrusion can eventually lead to structural damage because it weakens your foundation and other vital structural elements. This causes cracks in your walls, ceilings, and floors. If left unaddressed, it can even make your home unsafe to live in. Repairing structural damage is a major undertaking that will cost you time and money.

What to Do When Your Siding Gets Damaged from Winter Weather

Keep a keen eye on your siding throughout winter months and when winter comes to a close. Contact a reliable siding contractor (like us!) for an inspection if you see or suspect any damage. The sooner you address problems, the simpler and less costly their solutions will be.

Safeguard Your Dayton Area Home with Durable Siding Installed by Our Experienced Team

Don’t let winter weather get the best of your home exterior. If your siding is worn out and in need of replacement, our expert team is ready to install durable, weather-resistant siding for your Dayton home. At American Way Exteriors, we are a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor—so after thorough training by the manufacturer, we install your siding the right way to protect your warranty.

Siding that protects your home from the weather is important to us—that’s why we specialize in James Hardie siding installation. It’s the strongest siding available that stands up against Ohio’s harshest elements and comes with a 30-year transferable, non-prorated warranty. Learn more about how our siding services can deliver the durable protection you deserve on your exterior.