Warped siding refers to exterior siding (often vinyl or wood) that has started to buckle or twist due to moisture or damage to the inner walls. Wavy siding is similar to warped siding.
It can make your exterior siding appear uneven or not the proper size. You can fix warped or wavy siding in various ways, depending on the specific cause of the damage.
What Causes Warped or Wavy Siding?
Some of the more common causes of warped or wavy siding are improper installation, temperature changes, dark colors, and foundational changes.
Improper Installation
Your home’s siding may become warped or wavy if it is nailed down too tightly. This is because vinyl can expand or contract during hot and cold temperatures. If the vinyl is nailed down too tight, then it may not have enough room to properly contract, resulting in a warped or wavy appearance. Other installation concerns that could lead to warped or wavy vinyl include improper nail placement and misaligned panels.
Temperature Changes
As previously mentioned, vinyl siding contracts in cold weather and expands in warm weather. This can lead to warped or wavy boards, especially if the panels are not properly installed. There may be other factors that affect the temperature of your home’s siding, such as the regular use of a grill or washing the siding with water that is too hot.
Dark Colors
The colors you choose for your home’s siding can also affect how vulnerable it is to become warped or wavy. Dark colors attract heat more than light colors, so the use of dark colors in a warm climate could increase the risk of warped or wavy siding.
The Quality of the Siding Material
High-quality exterior siding material is far less likely to become warped or wavy than cheaper materials. This is why choosing a contractor that uses high-quality, heat-resistant materials is important for preventing early damage to your home’s siding.
Foundational Changes
Although less common than the aforementioned causes, foundational changes could lead to warped or wavy siding as well. This is harder to prevent than other causes, but it is still helpful to watch out for any foundational changes.
How to Fix Warped or Wavy Siding
The way in which you fix warped or wavy siding depends on the cause. You can often repair warped or wavy siding by tightening or loosening the warped panels, repairing cracks and holes that contribute to the warped or wavy siding, shortening warped boards, or calling an exterior siding professional.
Tighten or Loosen Warped Panels
If the warped or wavy siding is due to improper installation, then the installer (or the homeowner) may be able to correct the concern by fixing the installation problem. The boards can be loosened or tightened so that they do not warp or wave once they are exposed to hot or cold weather.
This is generally the best solution for minor panel damage, rather than for severe warping or waves in the vinyl siding. If the warped or wavy siding is severe, then the panels likely require replacement.
Repair Holes and Cracks With a Stainable Wood Putty
Holes and cracks in your exterior siding could lead to water damage, mold growth, and more if left untreated for an extended amount of time, in addition to causing warping and waving. You can repair cracks in your siding by using a caulking solution from a reputable provider. Be sure to choose a caulk that matches the color of your home’s exterior.
You can repair holes in your siding panels by using a stainable wood putty. Clean the holes out before filling them with the putty. You can also sand down the putty to ensure that it is even and matches the ideal look for your home’s siding.
Shorten Warped Boards That Cannot Be Corrected
You may need to shorten the boards once they are warped or wavy and minor repair is not enough. The goal is to strip away the warped or wavy parts of the board and salvage what is left. This can save you money from the entire replacement of vinyl panels.
You can use a saw to strip away the damaged portion of each panel. It is also important to ensure the materials underneath the boards are not damaged in the process.
Call an Exterior Siding Professional
You may be able to repair one or several warped or wavy panels with your home’s exterior. However, you should avoid larger repair projects unless you have experience. You can instead call a professional siding contractor to handle the siding repair and replacement for you.
Discuss Your Home Siding Repair Needs With Adelphia Exteriors
Here at Adelphia Exteriors, we take pride in helping members of our Northern Virginia Community with their siding needs. If you have warped or wavy siding, then contact our professional and experienced team today.