Let's talk about Siding projects here in Salina. I have been in this business for a long time. Our team has seen many good intentions turn into big headaches. You want your home to look good as well as be protected. Homeowners sometimes make a few key mistakes when they are planning or hiring for a Siding job. These mistakes can lead to regret. We will talk about what to watch out for.
Ignoring What Is Happening Behind the Walls
This is a big mistake. It is probably the most common mistake our Siding team sees. People focus on the new Siding material, the color, and the style. They focus on all of the visible stuff. What is underneath the Siding? Your Siding is your home's first line of defense. It is not waterproof. It sheds water. The stuff behind it truly keeps moisture out.
Our Siding crew has opened up walls on homes that looked perfectly fine from the outside. We have found mold, rotting sheathing, and even structural damage. This happens when folks skip important steps. These steps include inspecting the existing sheathing, making sure the walls are level, and cleaning the surface properly before the new Siding goes on. Any cracks, bulges, or signs of water stains on the old sheathing need to be fixed. These problems must be fixed before anything new goes up. Otherwise, you are just putting a pretty band-aid on a bigger problem. That problem will get worse for your Salina home.
Skimping on House Wrap and Flashing
This point is tied right into the first point about Siding projects. This is where many moisture problems start. You absolutely need a high-quality, water-resistant house wrap installed over your sheathing. Flashing is your best friend around windows, doors, rooflines, and any other openings. It diverts water away from your home's structure.
Our Siding team has seen flashing that is cut too short. We have also seen flashing that is not overlapped correctly. Sometimes it is not integrated with the house wrap. When that happens, water sneaks in behind the Siding. It starts doing damage. This is especially true with our Salina winds driving rain. Rot, mold, and structural issues all start small. They can escalate fast. Make sure your Siding Contractor installs flashing the right way. They should overlap it like shingles so water flows down and out, not behind the Siding. This is important for Siding in Salina, KS.
Not Understanding How Materials React to Our Climate
Salina weather is tough. It has hot, humid summers as well as freezing winters. We also get severe storms with hail and strong winds. This is not a place where you can just pick any Siding material. You cannot expect it to hold up. Our Siding Company understands these conditions.
- Vinyl Siding: It is popular and affordable. It expands and contracts a lot with temperature changes. If it is nailed too tightly, it will buckle and warp. Our Siding crew has seen many wavy Vinyl Siding installations around Salina. This happens because installers did not leave enough room for movement.
- Wood Siding: Wood Siding looks great. It needs consistent maintenance here in Salina. Our dry, windy conditions can lead to cracking and warping. This happens if it is not properly sealed.
- Fiber Cement: This material is tough. Even Fiber Cement needs proper fastening as well as expansion gaps.
You need a Siding material that can handle our temperature swings and moisture. Your Siding installer needs to know how to work with that material in our specific Salina climate. Installing Siding on a super hot or super cold day without adjusting for expansion and contraction is a recipe for disaster. Our Siding Company avoids these problems.