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.

Help! My New Vinyl Siding is Warping

Dear Bob, I am writing because I had new vinyl siding installed a few years ago and now it’s beginning to warp on one side of our house. What is wrong with it and can it be fixed?

Vinyl siding is a great, low-maintenance material that can improve the curb appeal of your home while relieving you of those pesky routine paint jobs. But once in a while, I get a call or email just like the one from this homeowner, who is baffled to see that their new siding has suddenly begun to warp. There are generally three reasons that this can happen. 

The first and most common cause is that when the siding was installed, it was nailed on too tight. Vinyl is a material that expands and contracts with the climate, and it needs room to move. If the siding is nailed onto the house too tightly, it will begin to warp or distort. Unfortunately, the buckling won’t correct itself and will have to be replaced. If you’re having siding installed, grab a piece of it and make sure you can move it about a half an inch side to side. Another rookie mistake is nailing a flagpole or shutters directly through the siding and into the wood underneath. If you do this, you pin the siding down, which will potentially leave it to distort.

The second cause is a real palm-to-forehead moment, but I see it all the time, especially in the summer. If you have a gas grill, make sure it’s at least three feet away from your home. The heat from the grill can easily melt your siding if it’s too close to the house. 

The third is a little rarer and often comes as a big surprise to homeowners. These days, replacement windows are made with Low-E glass, which is an energy-efficient material that helps to diffuse dangerous UV rays from entering the house. The problem is that when the rays are diffused, they reflect back off the glass. If you live in an area where the houses are very close together, and your neighbor recently installed replacement windows, his or her home improvement could be causing your siding to warp. Luckily, by installing an external screen, the UV rays will be diffused and you shouldn’t have any problems. The same goes for you too, especially if you have a new window in a corner that reflects light back onto your house. 

One very important tip is to make sure you check the warranty on your siding. Special circumstances like warping from a neighbor’s glass won’t be covered so be aware of your siding’s environment and what could cause problems in the future. By taking a few preventative measures you can ensure both its longevity and your peace of mind.