Siding is meant to protect your home from the harsh Wisconsin elements. But freezing winters, pounding hail, and humid summers give your siding a beating year-round.
Let’s explore the most common causes of siding damage and proactive steps you can take to maintain your Wisconsin home’s exterior and avoid costly repairs.
Siding Damage from Snow & Ice
Wisconsin winters are notorious for snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. When water seeps into small cracks or joints in your siding and freezes, it expands. This can cause wood and vinyl siding to warp, crack, rot, or even detach.
Prevention Tips
- Inspect your siding every fall for small gaps, cracks, and holes before the snow sets in. Contact our team for a fall inspection and we’ll make sure your home is good to go.
- Keep on top of shoveling during the winter months to prevent snow and ice from piling up against the side of your house.
- Ensure your gutters and downspouts are clear to prevent water overflow and ice damming. We always recommend gutter guards to help prevent gutter issues in the fall and winter months.
Siding Damage from Hail & Wind
Summer and early fall in Wisconsin often mean severe storms, wind, and hail. Hail and flying tree branches and debris can dent aluminum siding, crack vinyl panels, and knock your trim pieces loose. Even if the damage is minimal, it can cause issues over time and as temperatures fluctuate.
Prevention Tips
- Keep your trees trimmed to prevent branches from hitting your siding during storms.
- If a storm is forecasted, make sure bikes, toys, patio furniture and other objects are stored away so they don’t collide with your home.
- After a major storm, walk around your home to check for cracks, chips, or loose siding.
- If you’re planning to replace or upgrade your siding, consider impact-resistant materials that will offer long-term protection against hail damage to your siding.
Siding Damage from Water & Moisture Infiltration
Moisture is one of your siding’s biggest enemies. Whether it’s rain, melting snow, or humidity, moisture can seep behind panels if your siding isn’t properly sealed or ventilated. Over time, trapped moisture causes mold, mildew, and rotting wood.
Prevention Tips
- Make sure your siding and flashing are properly sealed around your windows, doors, and corners. If you’re not sure, our team would be happy to come and take a look.
- Clean your siding annually to remove grime, mildew, and buildup. These can hold and pull in extra moisture.
- Check for soft spots or discoloration that could indicate moisture damage beneath the surface. Catching these early can save you from bigger, more expensive repairs.
Siding Damage from Pests
Unfortunately, we have our fair share of pests here in Wisconsin and they’re common culprits of siding damage.
Wood siding can attract insects like carpenter ants, termites, and even birds, like woodpeckers. Squirrels, mice, and other rodents may sneak in behind loose panels and find cozy nesting spots. Once these pests get in, they can cause significant structural and aesthetic damage to your home.
Prevention Tips
- Seal gaps and cracks where pests could enter. Pay special attention to areas around doors, windows, and the foundation of your home
- Keep shrubs and trees trimmed back from the house. These can make great hiding places and entry points for pests.
- Consider pest-resistant materials like vinyl, fiber cement, or treated wood when replacing siding. These can help deter pests.
We had some woodpecker holes in our wood siding that we were concerned about. As a temporary fix, Jake showed up and quickly patched the holes for us and touched up the paint so you can barely tell where the holes were. He offered to come back if any of the holes open up again. Jake has a great attention to detail and we would definitely recommend him to anyone who needs work done on their siding. — Sarah W.
Siding Damage from Yard Equipment
You’d be surprised how often we see accidental siding damaged from lawnmowers, tractors, snowblowers, or even weed trimmers. A rock or stick kicked up by a mower blade or a misplaced snow shovel can crack vinyl panels or dent aluminum siding. Some damage is clearly significant, but even small impacts that might seem harmless can let in water.
- Mow away from your home and use deflectors on your lawnmowers and trimmers whenever possible to avoid any flying debris hitting the siding.
- When snow blowing during the winter, aim chutes away from the house.
- Don’t lean shovels, rakes, or other lawn care items up against your house.
- If you’re hiring out landscaping and yardwork, make sure you work with a reputable company or person who has insurance in case they damage your home.
My Siding Is Damaged — Now What?
Preventing damage is always your best bet, but sometimes things happen. Discovering siding damage like cracks, chips, or soft spots can be stressful, especially after a long Wisconsin winter or a busy summer of yard work.
If you’ve spotted damage, don’t panic or ignore it. The right fix depends on the type of siding you have (vinyl, wood, fiber cement, metal, etc) and the extent of the damage. Our team can diagnose the problem, match your siding correctly, and make sure repairs are watertight.
Inspect the Area Closely
Start by taking a good look at where the damage is on your home. If you can, take pictures for when you talk to a siding contractor or have to file a claim with your insurance company.
Check for Underlying Issues
While the damage may seem small or like no big deal, siding damage is often a symptom of a bigger issue below the surface. Cracks, dents, and holes could mean moisture, pests, and debris are getting behind the siding and causing rot, mold, and other issues.
Look for things like:
- Water stains or soft spots on the wall or underneath your siding.
- Cold drafts inside your home near the damaged area
- Insect activity under warped boards
- Nesting material or food scraps from rodents around the area or under warped boards
- Noise from wind or pest activity
Avoid DIY Quick Fixes
You might be tempted to slap on some caulk or patch over cracks, but that’s just a temporary fix. And we’ve seen people cause more damage in the process. It’s best to trust the experts with your siding repairs.
Call an Experienced Siding Contractor
If you notice damage, don’t wait to call a siding contractor to come out and access the damage.
The experts can help you assess the extent of the damage, determine whether the siding is repairable or needs replacement, and help you navigate insurance claims if necessary.
Top tier customer service!! They have gone out of their way to answer any questions we had and have made the entire claims process very easy. Mason was out the same day that we called and promptly met with our adjustor. The job was completed in one day and our yard was left spotless. Mason and the Schabel team are amazing to work with, and we cannot recommend them enough to anyone looking for exterior work. — Alexa W.
Think Long-Term
If your siding is old or if you’ve already patched or repaired it multiple times, it might be time to plan for a siding replacement. Modern siding materials offer better insulation, energy efficiency, and weather resistance, which are all big wins for Wisconsin homeowners.
Schabel Exteriors is Here to Help With Siding Damage
If you’re dealing with siding damage, our team will do our best to make the process simple, efficient, and pain-free. We’ll inspect your home, explain your options, and make sure your siding looks great and protects your home for years to come.
If you’re dealing with a repair or full siding replacement, we offer a variety of siding and color options, including vinyl lap siding, vertical siding, fascia, soffit, and more.
Schabel Exteriors was responsive, reasonably priced, and did excellent work. Thanks Jake, Mason, and José, for the great job repairing our siding! — Paul Edison-Smith
We’re proud to serve the Fox Cities and Northeast Wisconsin, including Oshkosh, Appleton, Green Bay, Fond du Lac, and the surrounding communities.
Call us today or request a free siding inspection online.
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