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 Mobile ViewEXTERIORS of buildings ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings ASBESTOS ROOFING / SIDING DUST ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BARK SIDE DOWN on DECKS, TRIM, STEPS BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CATCH BASINS DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DECK COLLAPSE Case Study DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR FIBER CEMENT SIDING FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK FLASHING for METAL ROOFS FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU FLASHING WALL DETAILS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES LOG HOME GUIDE PAINT / STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide SIDING, ALUMINUM SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK SIDING EIFS & STUCCO SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SIDING HARDBOARD SIDING, LOG SIDING STEEL SIDING VINYL SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION STONE CLEANING METHODS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION WOOD SIDING PRODUCT CHOICES WOOD SIDING INSTALLATION WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK FLASHING for METAL ROOFS FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU FLASHING SIDING DETAILS FLASHING WALL DETAILS FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOG HOME GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PORCHES & Sunrooms PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH RAILINGS, STAIRWAY RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SEARS KIT HOUSES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SHEATHING, Gypsum board SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board SHEATHING, OSB SHEATHING, Plywood SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide SIDING, ALUMINUM SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK SIDING EIFS & STUCCO SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SIDING HARDBOARD SIDING STEEL SIDING VINYL SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SOUND CONTROL in buildings STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STONE VENEER WALLS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE TERMITES, ROT THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings TREES & SHRUBS, TRIM OFF BUILDING TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE FELT 15# ROOFING, as HOUSEWRAP/VAPOR BARRIER HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS VENTILATION in buildings WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings ATTIC LEAKS Moisture or Mold BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WATER BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT De-Watering Systems BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BASEMENT WATER ENTRY PREVENTION CATCH BASINS Chimney Leaks CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DRYER VENTING DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE EXTERIOR WATER SOURCE ELIMINATION FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS FLOODS IN buildings-priorities FOUNDATION DRAINS, INTERIOR FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING GEOTEXTILES & DRAINAGE MATS GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS LOG HOME Leak Diagnosis & Cure LOG HOME Condensation &Moisture MOISTURE in BUILDING WALLS, EFFECTS MOISTURE in CELLULOSE INSULATION MOISTURE CALCULATIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOISTURE METER STUDY MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE MOLD in buildings Mold in Fiberglass Insulation Mold on Books, Book Conservation Mold on Fiberboard Insulating Sheathing MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS Soffit Intake Vents & Attic Condensation SEALERS, Basement Floor & Wall Moisture SEWAGE CONTAMINATION SITE & SURFACE DRAINAGE SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS WET BASEMENT PREVENTION WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO Window Flashing & Sealing Guide WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
This article discusses common defects observed in vinyl exterior building siding, such as buckling, splitting, cracks, odors, and questions about the need for a vapor barrier behind vinyl siding and over building sheathing. Included are comments from several recognized building inspection and construction authorities. Our page top photo shows wrinkled vinyl siding - often caused by heat exposure such as from a BBQ Grill - but in this location the pattern and size of the damage made us suspect that there was another cause. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Inspecting Vinyl Siding for Damage: Examples of Leaks & Damage to Vinyl SidingLeaks From Vinyl Siding Bottom Edges; Breaks or Cracks in Vinyl SidingMost of the vinyl siding problems we see appear to be due to poor installation details, though on occasion we see cracks and breaks that may be blamed on older, more brittle vinyl products.
In our photo at above left it looks as if there is a problem with moisture behind the siding, leaking out at two of the siding panel bottom edge vents, long enough to invite a pair of algae colonies on the wall. We suspect that that top J-channel trip at the gable end protrudes past the gable board and is not sealed. Wind-blown rain entering behind any building siding material can become a water problem. Our photo of leak stains on a foundation wall below vinyl siding (above right) suggests that either we had wind-blown rain or other exterior leaks into the building wall or there was an in-building leak or flood such as from a burst pipe. Water passing over wood and other building materials but behind the vinyl siding can easily pick up pigments that stain the foundation wall outside. If the builder failed to install a weather barrier, this sort of staining is more likely. See WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR. See these Vinyl Siding Articles: SIDING VINYL Readers should also see Siding, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide and see ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS for algae and stains on vinyl building siding and on vinyl exterior trim. Impact Damage, Cracks, & Holes in Vinyl SidingMost of the vinyl siding problems we see appear to be due to poor installation details, though on occasion we see cracks and breaks that may be blamed on older, more brittle vinyl products.
Our photo (above left) demonstrates impact damage to vinyl siding, in this case just above the floor of an outside deck. Our second vinyl siding damage (above right, courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates) demonstrates an impact damage even to siding that made both a hole and a crack in the wall covering. With (often older-generation) more brittle vinyl wall siding products we often find impact damage and holes caused by stones kicked-up against the wall by a lawn mower or weed-wacker. Other Stains on Vinyl Siding: Algae, Fungus ("Mildew")As we complain throughout InspectAPedia.com, mildew, a proper subset of the larger family of molds or fungi, does not grow on buildings - mildew grows on living plants. But people often refer to mold growth on surfaces as "mildew" and so product manufacturers selling cleaners intended to remove mold will understandably call them "mildew removers". It's mold - if you care.
Algae on building walls: Algae is often confused with mold. In our photo at above left shows a common condition that is found on many types of building siding: green (or brown or black) algae growth. Algae is found on siding that is shaded and stays damp. While algae stains on exterior walls are principally a cosmetic concern and can be cleaned using scrubbing, mild soaps, or more aggressive TSP-substitute cleaners or detergents, there may remain a hidden problem: any building wall that stays damp and shaded may be at higher risk for hidden insect or rot damage. If there is an accessible crawl space or basement below a wall that looks like the one in our photo, that's a good place to look for signs of building leaks, rot, or insect damage. In our photo at above right we think these black specs may be a fungal growth. A pen cap is included in the photo for scale. Artillery fungus can produce black specs on a building wall, trim, or other outdoor surfaces. Similar black specs may be found on exterior siding where the attachment points of vines have adhered to the surface. Advice for Dealing with Algae or Mold on Outside WallsWhere there are apparent "growth" substances on a building exterior wall we offer the following added advice:
Loose Vinyl Siding: Blow-Offs, Fall-Offs & Nailing Defects
In our photo at above left demonstrates a loose siding panel that is inviting more serious wind damage. Our second photo (above right) demonstrates a combination of poor siding installation, improper lower-roof flashing, a home that sat for months unattended while wind, rain, and snow penetrated the structure. These are almost certainly construction and installation defects, not product defects. How to Repair Loose Vinyl Siding or Remove and Reinstall Part of a Vinyl-Clad WallIt's not unusual to need to re-hook loose vinyl siding such as shown in our vinyl siding damage photo above, or to remove impact-damaged, heat damaged, or badly stained vinyl siding from a structure.
Continuing with Vinyl Siding Defect Photos (below) Caulked Vinyl Siding? Cracks at Vinyl Window Trim?
Our vinyl siding caulk photo (above left) shows a combination of improper trim installation, building leaks, caulk where it is not helping, and even the caulk was so sloppily applied that it didn't seal anything. Our photo at above right shows cracking vinyl siding above a window corner - a bad place for a leak that can lead to building water entry, window damage, and even hidden mold. More Holes & Improper J-Channel in Vinyl Siding Cause Costly Building Damage
In our photo at above left it looks like really sloppy J-channel work during siding installation, leaving a leak at the window sill. Watch out: J-Channel errors can rot windows and doors: Our photo of improperly-cut J-channel trim around a window (above right) shows a more serious problem than may be immediately apparent. In Spackenkill, Poughkeepsie, NY we found an entire neighborhood of homes in which nearly all of the windows were rotted beyond repair due to this error. Wind-blown rain sent inside the J-channel trim and into the window structure was the problem caused because the installer didn't follow the manufacturer's instructions. Properly the top J-channel is trimmed to include a tab bent over the vertical J-channel to route water outside, not inside the trim. See Figure 1-25 for details. Heat-Damaged Vinyl SidingAs we mention also at VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION, heat damaged siding is not a product defect and needs to be distinguished from siding that has buckled from heat from the sun combined with improper nailing. Heat damaged siding looks like the examples we show in our photographs below. In contrast, vinyl siding that buckles due to improper nailing is is not normally so extremely wrinkled, and will be more wavy across longer horizontal runs of surface. And of course, it'll be found on a building side exposed to sunlight, not here a barbecue grill was placed.
Watch out: we sometimes find badly buckled or even burned vinyl building siding where someone placed a barbecue grill too close to the exterior wall (photo above left). And on rare occasions we've found siding that was buckled as if by this problem, but in a location where we couldn't imagine a barbecue taking place (photo above right). We think the product at right was defective, or it may have been damaged by a solvent. See How to Repair Loose Vinyl Siding or Remove and Reinstall Part of a Vinyl-Clad Wall for suggestions and special vinyl siding tools that are used to remove and replace vinyl siding in the middle of a wall. Watch out: Information about vinyl products (not just siding) that may produce odors or have other environmental concerns can be found at VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO and VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings. Don't Bury Siding at Wall Bottoms - Insect RiskAs Carson Dunlop's photograph shows (below left), bringing vinyl siding down to ground contact or even below ground may please the architect or home owner's sense of aesthetics, but it is an engraved invitation to wood destroying insects to attack the structure. We like to see 6-8" of clear foundation wall between the bottom of wall siding and the top of the ground surface. Adding mulch as was done here, increases the invitation to termites.
Watch out: for heating equipment installers who may run a metal vent through a vinyl-clad wall. Vent materials that get hot may risk a fire, or at least risk damaging the siding. (Photo courtesy Carson Dunlop Associates.) Also see Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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