Vinyl siding is one of the most popular home siding options in the country, but it’s also one of the most likely to become stained over the course of its lifespan. While staining on siding isn’t a huge problem in and of itself, it’s indicative of much larger problems with your home, not to mention it can be rather unsightly to look at.
If your vinyl siding is stained, these are the most common causes.
Excessive Mold and Mildew Growth
Mold and mildew cultivate on vinyl siding when water is getting into places where it is not supposed to be. This is indicative of a leak somewhere in your siding, likely due to a warped or cracked piece or a loose seam somewhere on your home. It’s necessary to have a professional siding company inspect the siding to determine if it is too old or if it has been installed improperly.
This type of growth on your vinyl siding can also be the result of something going on up on your roof. There could be something above that portion of siding that is not properly sealed, which is allowing water to get behind the siding and rot the wood underneath.
Poor Gutter Performance
Your home’s gutters are an essential part of the protection for your home. If they are not working to the best of their ability, or are severely damaged, they will allow water to cascade down the side of your home, often splashing on your siding. Over time, this can cause water damage and stains on vinyl siding, which can lead to discoloration.
It’s important to ensure that your gutters are properly diverting water away from your home. If you do not have a gutter system set up on the side of your home where your siding is discolored, consider having one installed.
Ice Dams
Ice dams, which occur during the winter when snow melts on your roof and refreezes before draining, are known to cause a whole host of problems for your home. One of those is water damaged siding and stains. When ice dams get out of control on your roof, they can cause water to leak down onto your siding, where it can freeze and remain for the majority of the winter.
This is why winter snow and ice removal is important, especially for areas of Minnesota, where freezing temperatures are guaranteed during the winter. If you can, contact a professional company to remove the snow and ice from your roof before ice dams can form.
