Aluminum and Vinyl Sidings Inspection
Aluminum siding is almost a maintenance-free product, requiring only occasional washing down with a garden hose to keep the house looking good. Vinyl siding has many of the same features as aluminum siding. Both materials, when installed, are nailed/hung on sheathing that is covered with felt paper. By hung, we mean that the nails are not driven firmly into the sheathing, they are just driven until the siding is at the wall and straight. The main reason that they are hung on the wall is to give them room to expand and contract. Vinyl siding expands and contracts more than aluminum siding. You can see how much aluminum moves if you are inspecting the siding when it is in contraction (cooler times of the year or evenings). You may see the paint scratched at some of the vertical joints. Vinyl siding should move freely from side to side after installation. You should be able to move it with relative ease.
- Look for loose pieces of siding. They could be anywhere. High winds may cause pieces to come loose. Repairing/securing a small amount of the siding is relatively easy.
- Look for dents or damage that may have been caused by hail, lawn mowers, baseballs or golf balls, etc. If pieces have to be replaced, the paint color is not likely to match.
- Check the plane of the wall for inflections, bows or other irregularities that may indicate another type of problem. The siding may loosen and buckle at the 1st or 2nd floor band joist due to lumber shrinkage, with the 2nd floor being the most common area.
- Check the installation. It should have room to expand at the windows, etc. Caulk is not necessary if the siding was installed with the proper “J” channels and corner posts etc. at windows, doors, chimneys, corners, top and at Soffits etc.
- Check the condition of the paint on the siding. The paint starts to chalk after 6 or 7 years with inexpensive siding; it may take 12 to 14 years with a better siding. If the paint is chalking and dull, it can be cleaned/power-washed and repainted.
