Waukesha County Home

OCTOBER 2020 HOME 5 While homeowners may think of their roof, siding and windows as individual com- ponents, they actually work together to pro- tect a home and its interior from the ele- ments. NARI Milwaukee members Scott Cline, owner of J & B Construction Company in Germantown, and Randy Miller, certified remodeler and owner of Allrite Home & Remodeling in Milwaukee, recommend homeowners take time this fall to walk around their home and look for signs of wear and tear. "First, it's helpful to know the age of your roof. At around 20 years old, it's starting to near its twilight of serviceable life," says Cline. "Second, there are visual signs like shingles that are lifting or curling." Another indicator is granule loss, which shows up as small particles in the gutters and around downspouts. "Streaking or staining on the roof typi- cally indicates plant growth or residual moisture in specific areas. Both are signs the roof is no longer performing optimally," says Miller. "A professional contractor can examine the roof and provide insight whether and when it should be replaced." Siding signs of age While siding contributes to a home's curb appeal, its primary job is to act as a water shedding protective layer. Its useful life span is typically 20 to 25 years, and signs of wear and tear include cracking, cupping, holes or missing pieces. "Caulking is another protective element that's part of the siding system and some- thing many homeowners don't think about. Missing, peeling or gaps in caulking around windows and corners means water can get behind the siding and potentially enter the wall system," says Cline. Another element of a siding system is a waterproof house wrap like Tyvek. Today it's standard but many older homes don't have this important layer underneath the siding. "The house wrap material is waterproof and is the last line of defense to prevent water from getting into a home. Even if water does get behind siding, the wrap will channel it away and provide a final layer of water protection," says Cline. For those who are looking beyond func- tionality and want to give their home a fresh look, siding has seen a number of innovations in the past 25 years. Composite siding that's made with fibrous materials can replace traditional vinyl or cedar siding. Specifically, cedar is Know the signs to replace a roof, siding or windows See REPLACEMENT/Page 7

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