One of the most common problems homeowners with vinyl siding encounter is warping. This can often be prevented with certain choices and with proper installation and maintenance.
One cause of warped vinyl siding is heat from the sun. Vinyl is plastic, and it can melt if it gets too hot. Bad warping often occurs in the summer. Warping is more common with darker vinyl or paint colors because they absorb more heat than lighter colors. If there is an especially cold winter, the siding can contract and warp even more.
You can reduce the chance of warping by choosing a lighter color for your vinyl siding. This will reflect a good amount of light and heat, so it will absorb less heat than a darker color. If you are replacing or painting your vinyl siding, don’t choose a color that is darker than the existing color because the vinyl siding will not be able to handle the extra heat it will absorb. Do not use an oil-based coating because they tend to crack when applied to vinyl siding.
Another common cause of warped vinyl siding is improper installation. Vinyl siding should not be attached tightly to the house. It should hang from the fasteners so that it can move from side to side as the siding expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations. If the nails are too tight, the siding will be unable to move and can become warped. You can check to see if your siding is too tight by trying to move it. You should be able to move it ¼ to ½ inch from side to side.
By choosing a light color and by following proper installation and maintenance procedures, you can reduce the chance of your siding warping. However, once it has warped, vinyl siding cannot be repaired. In that case, the damaged siding will need to be replaced.