Can You Put Vinyl Siding Over Rotted Wood
Vinyl Siding Installation Costs: Install or Replace
You’re probably here looking at some siding repair project on your house. Maybe you’re even a good DIY handyman and already pulled some siding pieces off the house. But here’s the tricky element you discovered… you found rotted wood underneath the old siding. So now what do you do?
We’re here to help answer that question for all the DIYers out there who want to replace their own siding instead of hiring a professional contractor. So let’s dive in.
Should You Install Siding Over Rotted Wood?
The answer is no you should not replace or install vinyl siding and leave the rotted wood intact. Wood is often used on home building and is commonly wrapped around the house in sheets of plywood. It’s common and normal for wood to warp slightly over time. If you are confident the wood has ONLY warped on your house, you can install vinyl siding over the top of it.
But if you’re clearly seeing rotted wood, you should absolutely replace the wood before installing new siding. Rotting wood can be a huge cause of issues down the road (if not already) in your house. Rotting wood allows for structural issues and can lead to even larger problems if not handled.
How Does Wood Rot In The Underlayment?
The two biggest reasons for rotted wood in the under layer of your home exterior are: water leaks and termites. Neither of which are a good thing to keep there by installing new siding over the top and pretending it doesn’t exist.
Let’s start with a water leak. If you have rotten wood and you suspect it’s from a consistent water leak, have you fixed the leak yet? Many times homeowners discover rotten wood first before even knowing a leak exists. Over time, the leak can disintegrate the structural aspect of the wood (in several places) and leave you in a huge mess.
If you pulled siding off your house and found rotten wood, there might be a roof or siding leak nearby. Get that fixed and also replace the rotten wood before installing new siding over top.
Now, what if it’s termites? This could be opening a huge can of worms (literally and figuratively speaking) if you found rotten wood from termites. Termites eat wood, so if you’re seeing rotten wood from termites, are you confident it stopped there? What if it’s still ongoing and they’re spreading throughout your house? You should call a professional if you honestly think termites are involved.
These critters can cause massive damage over time which could hurt the structural integrity of your entire house.
Should You Call A Professional Siding Contractor?
It honestly depends on the situation. If you’re pretty handy and have some some exterior work, you might be able to figure this one out. Replacing small sections of under lament and siding can be done by a skilled handyman and not necessarily need a professional siding contractor.
But if you’re looking at the situation and second-guessing your skills, it might be time to call someone. Plus most contractors offer free consultations and visits so you can call several for an opinion.
Feel free to contact us if you’re in the greater Milwaukee or Waukesha area. We always offer free property inspections!
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