For people living in Truro, Canada, dealing with the weather’s onslaught on the exterior of the house is nothing new. Have you ever seen your house siding looking a shade duller than it did a couple of summers ago, compared to the neighbouring houses? The weird thing is the locality, and the weather remains the same.
For many homeowners in Truro and across Colchester County, this remains a mystery. It is not only about choosing an inferior product or unskilled contractors to set up the vinyl siding. There can be other factors at work, too.
The siding may not be at fault sometimes
Vinyl siding fades over time, no matter where the house is located. It is natural for sunlight to break down the pigments in the material slowly, year after year. But why would one house fade noticeably faster than its neighbours? This may be the case even if they were set up nearly at the same time! So, what could be the other underlying reasons? Let’s have a closer look.
- The angle of sunlight is a factor many don’t even think of! A south or west-facing wall takes a much harder hit from UV rays than a north-facing one.
- Darker colours absorb more heat and UV, so they fade more quickly. Dark coloured siding can even warp slightly in direct summer sun.
- Not all vinyl siding is made the same way. In cheaper vinyl siding, you will find less UV-resistant pigment. These start fading within a few years, rather than a decade or more.
- Of course, how the siding was installed plays a role here. Panels that were nailed too tightly, without room to expand and contract with temperature changes, show signs of damage earlier. These panels can warp or stress in ways that make fading and discolouration look worse.
When the siding looks worn out and faded due to one or more of these factors, you must contact one of the leading service providers offering quality vinyl siding services Truro.
The Atlantic Canada factor matters
Nova Scotia doesn’t just deal with sun. It deals with plenty of salt air, coastal humidity, and some wide temperature swings. That combination is tougher on exterior materials than people usually expect.
Salt-laden air carries fine particles that settle on siding. Over time, this can interact with the surface finish, causing the colour to fade quickly. Then there are freeze-thaw cycles, where moisture gets into tiny surface imperfections and then expands as it freezes.
If your home is closer to the coast or gets plenty of wind and moisture, faster fading of siding colour is only natural.
There can be something else too
Sometimes, a faded siding may hide something in plain sight! A powdery residue on the surface that rubs off onto your hand is a normal part of the vinyl aging process.
On the shaded sides of the house or near tree cover, grime can make siding look faded. With a good wash, you can bring the real colour back. Just wipe down a section with a damp cloth and see how much changes.
Wrapping it up
When you see siding colour fading, and it is not caused by surface dust or grime, contact veteran contractors. Those at Artisanroofing.ca can offer you the matching solutions. Find out how soon they can send over the experts to carry out the necessary inspection.