Answers to frequently asked questions about damaged siding, class-action settlements and more.

On February 2, 2010 (Groundhog Day) the most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. Well, it’s been five weeks since his prediction and it sure doesn’t take a meteorologist to determine that his predictions were pretty accurate. I think most of us can agree that the winter months of 2009 and 2010 (so far) have been nothing short of an anomaly.

In mid February, many claimed it was the first time in US history that there was snow on the ground in all 50 states at the same time. Hawaii had snow in the state’s highest volcanoes and even Florida received enough snow in the Panhandle to warrant closing the University of West Florida. Some celebrated the oddity while most cringed at the idea of more snow. But whether or not you were on the welcoming committee, the snow may have had a lasting effect on your home’s exterior siding….especially if you have wood or composite wood siding.

We’ve discussed in the past why composite wood siding doesn’t handle water very well (Composite wood siding: a deeper look into why it will eventually fail) so there’s no question that this unusual winter has probably caused some damage. If you’re in the Midwest or the Eastern part of the US, there’s a good chance you haven’t seen the bottom half of your house in months – you’ll have to wait until all the snow melts away before you can see the extent of the damage. But if you live a little farther south and the snow has melted away, you may want to take a walk around your property and inspect your siding for moisture damage.

Be on the lookout for cracked boards, swelling at the board joints and/or nail heads and examine the paint to see if it is peeling or flaking. Try comparing the weather-exposed areas to the pieces of siding that lie under an overhang. If you notice a difference, you’ll want to take care of this to prevent the moisture from entering the interior of your home. 

In this economically challenged time, you may be worried about how you’ll be able to afford to do such repairs. Well, if you are eligible to file a siding claim, now is the time to do it. Just think, by the time Mother Nature finally graces us with warm summer days, you could have the money in your hands to make the repairs caused by one of her most bizarre winter seasons in decades!