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4 Ways Newer Vinyl Siding Will Keep Your Home Pest Free

February 24, 2019

Blue Vinyl Siding — Waukee, IA — Allstate Gutter & Siding

Vinyl siding technology has dramatically improved and changed with time. A few decades ago, however, vinyl siding wasn’t the state-of-the-art option that it is now. Some types of this old vinyl siding had problems with pests. If you have older vinyl siding, then you may have encountered these issues.

The following are four things that you should know about investing in newer vinyl siding to keep your home pest free.

1. Older Siding Was Prone to Pest Issues

Perhaps you live in an older home and your vinyl siding is infested with pests. When you upgrade to newer vinyl siding, you don’t need to worry about that anymore. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, vinyl siding would easily warp and crack because it was made with materials that weren’t as durable or as advanced as they are now. These cracks would eventually create warm, safe, and habitable homes for a number of pests.

Once pests were inside of the siding, they could then get into the rest of the home. In fact, the siding could actually be detrimental: the insects could burrow under the siding and hide there, so homeowners wouldn’t know that their home was infested until far too late.

Again, these are problems of the past, and shouldn’t deter you from considering vinyl siding as an option today.

2. Modern Siding Is Insect-Proof

New, modern types of vinyl siding are actually insect-proof. Modern vinyl siding is designed to last a long time with minimal maintenance, and that includes resisting the cracks and warping that were so common in the past. Most insects can’t get through the barrier that vinyl siding provides, thereby making vinyl siding a protective shield against them.

Still, you will need to take care of your vinyl siding and protect it periodically, but for the most part, the vinyl siding itself is going to do the work.

3. Treating Bugs Under Siding Isn’t a Chore

If you have old siding and you’ve found insects in your home, you can treat the siding itself. There are ways to treat beneath the siding, in order to directly poison and flush out the insects.

However, if you’re having issues because you have older vinyl siding, then it may be better to replace that siding entirely. Older vinyl siding is going to continue to crack and deteriorate, thereby letting further insects in even as you treat your current pest infestations.

By investing in new vinyl siding, you can protect your home for decades to come. You’ll be able to reduce the number of expensive pet treatments that you need, and you’ll be able to protect your home from both pest damage and potential structural damage.

4. Vinyl Siding Is a Better Option Than Wood

In terms of pests, even older vinyl siding is still a better option than wood. Numerous pests are attracted to wood siding, ranging from termites to particularly aggressive birds. Over time, wood can rot and wick up moisture, which attracts worms and grubs. Insects find it very easy to burrow into wood, and once they have established a colony it can be difficult to get them out.

If you currently have a home with exposed wood siding, then vinyl siding can be an affordable and attractive way to immediately protect it against pests. Textured vinyl panels can even be used to replicate the appearance of wood with none of the associated maintenance issues.

Vinyl siding isn’t the only thing that could potentially cause pests within your home. If the exterior of your home isn’t thoroughly cleaned of brush and debris, then that could be why the home is attracting pests. In cases like these, cleaning your gutters can help. For more information about vinyl siding and pest control, contact the experts at Allstate Gutter & Siding.