Water Leaking Behind Siding

While gaps and openings permit leaks behind the siding some siding openings are normal such as aluminum or vinyl siding bottom edge vents.

Water leaking behind siding.

Step 2 you can also check above the window or door to see how the siding is attached there. As gravity takes over and pushes the rainfall downwards you better hope your siding was installed correctly. If your gutters are not directing the water to the downspout system the siding takes the brunt of the torrent resulting in wear and tear as well as water damage. Vinyl is a potentially leaky material and water trapped behind siding leads to decay and mold.

Bottom to top rain will hit the roof and make its way down your siding until it hits the ground. Caulk along the seams of the siding where it meets the window. This is a caulking that s flexible and works well with vinyl siding. If it was installed properly there shouldn t be any water running behind the siding and causing issues.

If an installer uses a material such as incorrectly this only exacerbates the problem. My photo above of ice below some courses of vinyl siding traces a moisture problem traced to improper installation of a through wall vent for a direct vent heating appliance. At some point in the past an owner had vinyl siding installed over old siding. Check to be sure weep holes are open along bottom of window openings.

Rainwater leaking from a gutter ends up behind siding and causes a wall to rot. When the siding becomes damaged there s a higher risk of the water running into your walls which could lead to mold growth structural damage and a compromised foundation. Some areas were extremely heavy. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva shows how to prevent water from leaking in behind vinyl siding.

During a very heavy 2 days of rain water began running from between pieces of 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. In most communities building codes require a moisture barrier. However it is possible for water to get behind the siding if it s not installed properly.

The extra thickness of the vinyl. The presence of a housewrap on modern buildings or felt on older buildings combined with proper flashing at windows doors and other openings are relied upon to keep water from entering the structure itself. Inspect the area above the leak including both indoors and out. Some areas were extremely heavy while others were just a single streak.