Siding Lets In Water

A continuous sheet of drainage mesh is a fast way to do it.

Siding lets in water.

In this photo you can see how water flowing down the wall will be caught in the j channel where it will flow sideways until it finds an exit path. Although vinyl is impervious to water when installed as directed by the manufacturer vinyl siding as a whole is not completely watertight. Damaged siding lets air water dirt and insects through to the inside. It also allows decay and further damage in the wood around it.

Vinyl is the rare siding product that remains completely unaffected by water behind it. Always use caution when dealing with a harsh chemical like bleach. If your white siding is beginning to look a little green then this is the route you want to go as it is very powerful against mildew and mold. One of the most popular alternatives to power washing your siding is detergent bleach and water.

Openings at the lap joints of vinyl siding sections as well as drain openings provided along the bottom edge of most vinyl siding products let the wall system breathe and allow wind blown rain that may enter the siding to drain out of it as well. In researching an article for the magazine senior editor justin fink sent an email to the green building advisor help desk. If the corner in this picture is not flashed correctly from underneath the j channel then moisture might penetrate the structure. That can be a virtue and a vice.

Vinyl siding installs in pieces so gaps and overlaps. Once the house siding is damaged water can easily enter and become trapped. Let s start at the beginning. Vertical strapping lets water drain down and air flow up.

In this article we ll discuss how you can repair damaged areas or individual shingles yourself which can save you money and head off problems before they become too serious. It is smart to flash the bottom of the wall to push water away especially if you are draining the back of the siding. This allows the back of the siding to dry as fast as the front keeping the wood stable and extending the life of the paint siding and sheathing. Overall vinyl siding is easy to care for and usually holds up well but consider that by investing a bit more into a higher quality material you ll have a more stable exterior that will easily outlast vinyl.