A Vinyl Siding Conundrum

A reader recently wrote to me about a problem with her vinyl siding. The siding, which was only a few years old, had warped and started looking “wrinkled”, as she described it. At first, the reader thought it might be from direct sun exposure, but the wrinkling became visible all over the house, even in shady spots. What was she to do?

Warping is a fairly common problem with vinyl siding and it has nothing to do with the sun. The issue is actually called “oil canning” or “stress buckling” and it happens when the siding isn’t installed properly.

All homes are made of natural materials such as wood, which expand and contract with seasonal changes. People love vinyl siding because it’s very low maintenance and offers fantastic curb appeal, but a DIY or inexperienced install can actually make a house look much worse, even with very new siding. 

Every house needs to expand and contract. While it might seem logical to nail vinyl siding tightly to make sure it doesn’t come loose, doing so will actually cause the panel to buckle because it can’t expand and contract with the house. That’s why most vinyl siding panels come with longer nail slots instead of small holes. It gives everything room to move and shift. 

Another possible siding installation pitfall is leaving too much overlap between panels. While you might think this creates a stronger bond, it actually restricts movement, causing the siding to stretch and then buckle in the same way.

Back to my reader’s question. Is there ever a time when the sun might cause siding to warp? The answer is not really, although I have seen damage from sunlight reflecting off an adjacent window. The only other thing that could cause an issue is your gas grill, so keep it far away from the house. 

Once oil canning happens, the siding has to be replaced. Because the issue is installation, the product’s warranty is worthless and the manufacturer isn’t going to be responsible for the defect. While removing panels is pretty straightforward, it can be tough to get a color match if the siding is a bit older. 

These are all the reasons why it’s so important to work with a contractor who knows what he or she is doing. If you’re going to tackle this job on your own, make sure you do your research and know all the common mistakes that can be made. You don’t want all that hard work to result in a home aesthetic that’s anything less than perfect. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Keep Pests at Bay with These All Natural Repellents

I don’t know about you, but this early summer seems worse than ever for pests of every kind. Homeowners are struggling with ants in the house and even my yard has more chipmunks than I’ve seen in recent memory. Lots of people I speak to are determined to get rid of their newfound neighbors, but many don’t want to resort to environmentally damaging chemicals or toxic ingredients in the home. So what can we do?

Let’s get those pests in check! I’ve rounded up a bunch of my favorite all natural repellents and deterrents to reduce the unwanted company in and around your home without putting toxins or pollutants into the environment. Let’s check them out.

Hot Pepper - for unwanted garden bugs, hot pepper is a fantastic solution. Simmer three tablespoons of red chili flakes or five finely chopped fresh jalapenos in a large pan of water for 15 minutes. Let it sit for a day and then strain the mixture into a spray bottle with a few drops of dish soap.

Coffee - did you know that coffee is fatal to ants? If you can find where they are entering your home, you can use recycled grounds to deter them. Simply place them in a shallow bowl or bag right at the entry point. One sniff and they’ll be doing a one-eighty.

Mint and Garlic - this is another garden concoction that you can use as a plant spray. Blitz a few garlic cloves and mint leaves in a food processor and then boil it with some cayenne pepper. Add a few drops of dish soap to the spray bottle and pour in your solution for a simple, effective plant spray.

Cornmeal - if you have pets, cornmeal is an easy non-toxic remedy for ants. Put a small dish or a plastic cover full near their entry point and the ants will soon start to carry it away to their colony. They love to eat it, but can’t digest it. Problem solved.

Rosemary - I love balmy summer evening in the backyard but I can’t stand mosquitoes! Citronella is a common natural deterrent but if you don’t have any handy, try throwing some rosemary or sage on your firepit. It smells wonderful to us but mosquitos can’t stand it.

Basil - if you get flies coming in and out of the house every time someone opens the door, trying potted basil. The flies will immediately retreat in their tracks and you’ll have plenty of fresh leaves for a delicious pesto. If you’re worried about pots getting kicked over and making a mess, a vital of basil essential oil will do the trick too.

Cayenne pepper - this is probably your best bet for a chipmunk problem. Just like other pests, chipmunks are very sensitive to the smell and taste of hot peppers and they’ll go out of their way to avoid it. A generous spray of cayenne and water or oil solution around your immediate garden should help to deter them from hanging around.

Do you have a favorite all-natural solution that gets rid of the pests at your home? I’d love to hear about it. Email me or send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.