Water Behind Vinyl Siding

Rainwater from missing or improperly placed gutters can end up behind siding.

Water behind vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding itself is waterproof and directs most water flow away from the exterior but even a small gap can allow water through. It s virtually impossible to completely seal any siding without additional materials. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva shows how to prevent water from leaking in behind vinyl siding. When siding is put back behind the gutter the lowest piece of flashing running down the pitch of the roof above must be fashioned to divert water into the gutter not behind the siding.

While a water resistant house wrap is typically installed under the siding it is punctured by nails during the installation process contributing to leaks. Vinyl siding must be able to move independently of the wall surface. Inspect the area above the leak including both indoors and out. Check to be sure weep holes are open along bottom of window openings.

Lack of gutters installed on the top roof of the home. Water also enters the wall cavity through gaps at the edge of siding if it is not caulked. The most common causes of water damage behind vinyl siding include the following. The exterior walls of your vinyl siding clad home consists of layers of different materials designed to keep your home dry and warm in the winter or.

Vinyl is a potentially leaky material and water trapped behind siding leads to decay and mold. How to prevent water from flowing under vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is designed as an exterior cladding only and is supposed to be installed over other materials such as a weather resistant barrier. If an installer uses a material such as incorrectly this only exacerbates the problem.

Although vinyl is impervious to water when installed as directed by the manufacturer vinyl siding as a whole is not completely watertight.